


l^^^^l^ppf^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 






UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



HINTS AND HELPS 



FOE 



NATIONAL GUARDSMEN 



A HAND-BOOK FOR THE MILITIA. 



BY 

Col. WILLIAM H. EOBEETS. 












NEW YOKE: 

D. VAN NOSTRAND, 

23 MUERAY STREET AND 27 WARREN STREET. 

1880. 



9r 



<^ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, 

By Col. WM. H. ROBERTS, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



Si 



TO 

BRIG. GEK W. J. BEHAI^, 

Commanding the First Brigade^ 

AS A 

Slight Token of the Author's Appreciation 

OF 
HIS SERVICES TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, 

as well as 
His High Chaeacteb as a Soldiee and Gentleman, 

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 



PREFACE. 



The purpose of the author, in undertaking this work, 
was to furnish to volunteers and miUtia a manual which 
should contain some information and instruction in re- 
gard to matters not fully comprehended in the tactics ; 
particularly such points as those who have not been 
regularly trained in military service are not very familiar 
with. The young officer of the National Guard is usual- 
ly called into service from civil hfe, and he must meet 
with difficulties on every hand. He cannot ask his in- 
ferior officers for information, and does not wish to seem 
to be ignorant of his duties in the eyes of his superiors. 
Therefore, that which is comparatively simple to the ex- 
perienced soldier is difficult for the officer of the Nation- 
al Guard, w^liose opportunities for the attainment of 
practical knowledge, by experience, may not have been 
extensive. 

The object of this book can be stated in a few words. 
It is to aid the inexperienced to become familiar with 
the theories and details of military duty, which are 
absolutely necessary to those who wish to become com- 
petent officers in the line, field, or stafi^ In many of the 
States gentlemen frequently enter the service in staff 
positions who have had no opportunity to become 
familiar with the details of their dut}^, and who, there- 
fore, may be called upon for the exercise of professional 



Yl 

knowledge, without having had any chance to acquire it. 
If this book can assist them, its author will feel that he 
has not written it in vain. 

Besides the hst of books of reference and authorities 
used in the preparation of this work, the author wishes 
to express his thanks to officers of the army who have 
aided him with suggestions, and, in many cases, by prac- 
tically assisting in its preparation. He desires to make 
special acknowledgment of the courtesy shown by Brevet 
Major-General E. D. Townsend, Adjutant-General, 
United States Army; Brig.-Gen. S. V. Benet, Chief 
of Ordnance, U. S. A. ; Brevet Brig.-Gen. E. C. Drum, 
Colonel and Asst. Adjt.-General, U. S. A. ; Brevet Maj.- 
Gen. Emory Upton, Lt.-Colonel 4th Artillery, U. S. A. ; 
Brevet Brig.-Gen. John C. Tidball, Major 2d Artillery, 
U. S. A. ; Brevet Lt.-Col. Eobt. N. Scott, Major 3rd 
Artillery, U. S. A. ; General Thomas G. Pitcher, U. S. A. 
(retired) ; Brevet Maj.-Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Colonel 5th 
Infantry, U. S. A. ; Brevet Brig.-Gen. Henry A. Morrow, 
Colonel 21st Infantry, U. S. A. ; Brevet Lt.-Col. S. N. 
Benjamin, Asst. Adjt.-General; Brevet Lt.-Col. Stephen 
G. Lyford, Major Ordnance Dept., U. S. A. ; Brevet 
Lieut.-Col. H. C. Corbin, 24th Infantry ; First Lieuten- 
ant Rogers Birnie, Jr., Ordnance Corps; Lieut. R. K. 
Evans, 12th Infantry ; Lieut. John Pitcher, 1st Cavalry ; 
V. McNally, Esq., Chief Clerk of Ordnance Department; 
and Dr. Irving W. Rosse, late Assistant Surgeon, United 
States Army. Besides these, the writer has to thank many 
other officers of the army for suggestions and hints which 
have been of great value. The author is also under 
obligations to the following named gentlemen, whose 



vu 

practical experience as commanders in the field gives 
great weight to their suggestions : the Hon. John B. 
Gordon, United States Senator from Georgia ; Hon. M. 
C. Butler, United States Senator from South Carolina ; 
Hon. J. E. Chalmers, of Miss., M. C. ; Hon. Pierce M. B. 
Young, late member of CongTess from Georgia, and the 
Hon. J. Floyd King, Brigadier-General of the Louisiana 
National Guard and member of Congress from the fifth 
district of Louisiana ; besides others, who, in various ways, 
have rendered valuable assistance. To all the friends 
to whose kindly sympathy and courtesy the author is so 
much indebted, he desires to return his most respectful 
and appreciative thanks. 

In conclusion, it is perhaps unnecessary to say that 
the matter embraced in this work has been drawn from 
the best possible sources, and with special reference to 
the object and purpose announced in the beginning o£ 
this preface. 

W. H. E. 

New Orleans, Jan. 1, 1880. 



CONTENT8 



PAGE 

The Eecruit 9 

Non-commissioned Officers 15 

First or Orderly Sergeants 18 

The Seroeant-Major 22 

Company Officers 25 

THE EEGIMENTAL STAFF : 

The Adjutant 44 

The Quartermaster and Quartermaster-Sergeant .... 57 

The Surgeon 58 

THE EEGIMENTAL FIELD OFFIOEES : 

The Colonel 62 

The Lieutenant-Colonel 72 

The Major 74 

THE GENEEAL STAFF : 

The Adjutant-General 81 

The Assistant Adjutant-Generals 86 

Correspondence of the Adjutant- General's Depart- 
ment 91 

Books to be kept at General Headquarters 93 

Inspector General — Brigade and Division Inspectors ... 98 

The Quartermaster-General. 118 

The Chief of Ordnance 129 

Forms for Ordnance Eeturns 135, 136, 137 

Ordnance — Classification and Accountability 1 38 

COUETS-MAETIAL : 

General Courts-Martial 144 

EEGIMENTAL CoURTS-MaRTIAL 171 

Courts of Inquiry 173 



PAGE 

<3EEEM0NIES : 

Honors paid by Troops 176 

Escorts of Honor 178 

ARTHiiiERY Salutes 1 79 

Funeral Honors 180 

Eeviews 181 

Inspections . . 185 

Review of a Battery 189 

Escorting and Receiving Colors of a Regiment 193 

Reception of one body of troops by another 195 

Musters 196 

Roster or Details for Service 196 

Use of Militia in aid of Civil Power 199 

Care and Preservation of Artillery 223 



In the preparation of this work the author has con- 
sulted the following named standard American works on 
military subjects : Kautz's Customs of Service ; Wallen's 
Service Manned', Patten's Manual for Officers; The U,S, 
Army Begidations ; Benet's Military Lato ; Scott's Di- 
gest of the Military Laivs of the U. S. ; Craighill's Army 
Officers' Pocket Corapanion ; Gilham's Manual for Volun- 
teers and Militia ; Duane's Manual for Engineer Troops ; 
Upton's Tactics, for the three arms of the service ; Regu- 
lations of the Ordnance De]jartment, TJ, S. A, ; Regulations 
for the Militia of the States of Massachusetts and Neio' 
York. 

The foreign military pubhcations which have been 
used as books of reference are as follows : The Soldier s 
Pocket Book, by General Sir Garnet Wolseley ; The Young 
Officers Companion, by General Lord De Eos ; The Art 
of War, by Mac Dougall ; Jebb's Sy stern of Attack and 
Defence; Leslie's Light Troojos ; The British Officer; 
The Queen's Regulations (1873) ; Aide- Memoir e de V Etat 
Major de VArmee Francaise, d^ndi. Journal Militaire Officiel 
(from 1870 to 1879) ; General Count von Schellendorf's 
Duties of the General Staff ; The Administration of the 
German Army (Ver waltung desDeutschen Heeres), and 
Infantry Service and Affairs of the German Army (Heer- 
wasen und Infantorie Dienst), Berlin, 1879. 



HINTS AND HELPS 



FOR 



NATIONAL GUARDSMEN 



THE EECKUIT. 

A recruit is one who joins a military organization to 
be taught the practical duties of the soldier. Much 
care should be exercised by officers in recruiting. The 
recruit should not be enrolled until he perfectly under- 
stands the obligations he takes upon himself when he 
enters the National Guard. 

In New York, and in some other States, the term of the 
first enlistment is for five years, and the recruit may re- 
enlist after the expiration of that term of service for one 
or more years, but no rule can be laid down in regard 
to this, as it is regulated by law in each State. No 
person above the age of forty-five should be enlisted, 
and no person under the age of twenty-one years should 
be permitted to join a company, without the consent of 
his parents or guardian. As soon as possible after he 
has joined, the recruit should begin his education in the 
school of the soldier. 



12 

The object of this school is the personal discipline 
and instruction of the recruit. In it he is taught, in 
the first place, the position of a soldier without arms. 
This is an important part of his instruction, and the 
drill-master should never require a movement to be 
executed until he himself has given an exact explana- 
tion of it, and has executed it often enough for practical 
illustration. The drill-master should accustom the re- 
cruit to take the various positions by himself, and be 
sure that each movement is understood before another 
is attempted. The recruit should be allowed to rest at 
the conclusion of each part of the lesson. 

The personal instruction of the soldier should be 
divided into three separate parts. In the first, the re- 
cruit should be taught the particular drill in which the use 
of arms is dispensed with. In the second, the lessons 
of the first should be continued, and the young soldier 
carefully instructed in the manual of arms, and in load- 
ing and firing. In the third, he should be taught the 
principles of ahgnment and of the march, the steps and 
the principles of marching by the front and flank, and 
of wheeling. The thorough understanding of the differ- 
ent steps is indispensable to the recruit, and they should 
be taught him at the earliest opportunity, and, for this 
reason, it is proper to briefly explain the steps. The 
direct step in common time is used in marching directly 
forward. It is twenty-eight inches in length, and ninety 
steps are taken in a minute. The direct step, in quick 
time, is twenty-eight inches in length, and one hundred 
and ten are taken in a minute. The double-quick step is 
thirty-three inches in length, and one hundred and sixty- 



13 

five steps are taken in a minute. There are different de- 
grees of swiftness in the double-quick step. It may be 
increased from one hundred and sixty-five to one hun- 
dred and eighty steps per minute ; for example, in 
marching in double-quick time, if a subdivision in 
column has to change direction, by turning or to form 
into line. This movement does not occur very often, 
:and therefore the habitual exercise of the recruit will be 
in the double-quick of one hundred and sixty-five steps 
per minute. The cadence, or uniform time and pace in 
marching, is an indispensable requisite to the recruit. 

There are a few technical terms which are in common 
use, the meaning of which should be taught to the re- 
cruit as early as possible, as, for example, that rank and 
file means the non-commissioned officers and privates of 
the command ; that a rank of soldiers is a line of soldiers 
standing side by side, and a file of soldiers is a line of 
soldiers drawn up one behind the other, although a file 
means literally two soldiers, a front and a rear rank 
man ; that the flanks of a company are its ends ; that 
the right flank is the right hand side when standing in 
the line, and the left flank the left hand side when stand- 
ing in line ; that marching by the front means moving 
directly forward in column or in line ; that marching by 
the flank means moving when faced to the right or left 
by successive files ; and that changing direction means 
turning to the right or left when marching in column or 
by the flank. He is also to be taught, very early, that 
the company is divided in the centre, and these two divi- 
sions are called platoons ; that the first platoon is the right 
half of the company and the second platoon is the 



14 

left half of the company ; that the guide is a non-com- 
missioned officer whose duty it is to keep the flanks or 
ends of the company steady, and there is one to each 
platoon ; that, in the wheelings and marchings, the march- 
ing flank is the end which moves most, and that dressing 
means moving the men so they may establish a true 
line, and that columns are divisions, platoons, or sections 
marching one after the other. The instructor should 
be careful to answer all such questions, as this knowledge 
is very important, and greatly facilitates the progress of 
the recruit and his subsequent instruction. 

The recruit should be taught that the credit and good 
reputation of the command can be enhanced or impaired 
by the conduct of any of its members, and he should be 
particularly careful to do all he can to maintain it, by 
the correctness of his own deportment. The disciplin- 
ing of the recruit is a most important matter, and he 
should know that prompt, cheerful and intelligent obedi- 
ence to orders is as indispensable to a good soldier as 
proficiency in drill. If the recruit thinks he has a cause 
for complaint he should report it to the non-commis- 
sioned officer of the squad, and then to the orderly ser- 
gent of the company. If the latter officer cannot redress 
it he should take the person making the complaint to 
the officer commanding the company, but the recruit 
should also know that he must never go directly to the 
commanding officer, nor should any number of men go 
in a body to the commanding officer with any petition 
or complaint. It is the duty of the commanding officer 
to listen to and right the wrong of any man in his com- 
pany, but he should hear both sides, if there are two 



15 

sides to the controversy, before he makes up his mind 
:as to the justice of the complaint. If the recruit thinks 
he has been ill used by any private in the command, he 
should report the matter, with the nature of the ill-usage, 
as above stated ; but, on no account, except in actual 
self-defense, should he use personal force. Improper or 
profane language should never be permitted. In case 
of any call to engage in active service, the recruit should 
know that there must be prompt obedience to the de- 
mand of the state ; that perfect order and quietness 
should be maintained, and that no man has a right to 
move without the order of his commanding officer. The 
militia of the states can be called into active service by the 
governor, in case of war, insurrection, invasion, or any 
imminent danger to the state or any of its cities. The 
failure of any man to promptly respond to such a call 
renders him liable to a fine and such other punishment 
as the military code of each state prescribes. 

Any officer or soldier who is thus called out and does 
not use his utmost endeavors to suppress the riot, in- 
surrection or invasion, or fails to do his duty when in 
the field, is liable to very serious punishment under the 
articles of war. It will be well for the recruit to know, 
that any officer or soldier who uses contemptuous or 
insulting language towards the President of the United 
States, or the Congress as a body, or the Governor of 
his own state, is liable to be put under arrest, and may 
receive such punishment as the court-martial, in its 
judgment, shall inflict. One of the first things the re- 
cruit should learn is the proper manner of approaching 
and saluting an officer. When on duty he should salute 



16 

officers of other regiments as readily as he does those 
of his own, and also all officers of the regular army and 
the navy. By doing so he shows a proper respect to 
the officer saluted, and creates a favorable impression of 
the soldier-like appearance and discipline of his com- 
mand. In passing an officer the salute should be 
made with the hand farthest from the person saluted. 
Whenever a recruit is in ignorance touching any part of 
his duty he should apply to the non-commissioned offi- 
cer of his squad, who should see that the person so in- 
quiring is correctly instructed. Officers and instructors 
ought never to show impatience on account of the seem- 
ing stupidity of the recruit, but should explain, as simply 
and as accurately as possible, any point concerning which 
information may be required. The recruit will never 
wear his uniform or equipments when not on duty with- 
out permission of the commanding officer. If this rule 
be violated the offender should be punished, in such way 
as the military code of the state prescribes. In the 
State of New York, this offence is liable to be punished 
by a fine of not more than $10. A severe penalty at- 
taches to the sale, pawning, or pledging in any way, of 
arms, uniforms, or equipments which have been issued 
under the provisions of the military code, the offender 
being liable to a fine of not less than fifty nor more than 
one hundred dollars, and imprisonment in the county 
jail for not less than one nor more than two months. 
Similar laws, varying in stringency, prevail in all the 
states of the Union. 



17 

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 

A non-commissioned officer is a soldier who serves in 
the ranks, with the authority to command given by vir- 
tue of a warrant issued by the Colonel. There are nine 
in the company, five sergeants and four corporals. The 
sergeants are first or orderly, and second, third, fourth and 
fifth duty sergeants ; and the corporals are the first,^ 
second, third and fourth. The duties of the sergeants are 
those of instructors to the men, and as guides in the manoeu- 
vres of the company. The corporals act as a base to the 
front rank. The position of the orderly sergeant, when 
the company is formed alone, is on the right of the 
rank. He is also right guide of the company and the 
guide of the first platoon. The position of the second 
sergeant is two paces in the rear of the rear rank, 
opposite the second file from the left of the company. 
He is the left guide of the company. The third ser- 
geant's place is two paces in the rear of the rear rank, 
opposite the second file from the right of the first 
platoon. The position of the fourth sergeant is two paces 
in the rear of the rear rank, on the left of the first 
lieutenant. The position of the fifth sergeant is in the 
line of file closers, on the right of the second lieutenant. 

The 7norale of the regiment depends so much upon the 
intelligence and activity of the non-commissioned officers 
that great care should be observed in their selection. 
Intelligence, sobriety, industry and rigid obedience are 
indispensables in non-commissioned officers ; without 
these quaUties it is impossible for a man to be useful in 
this position. Non-commissioned officers should always 



18 

treat the soldiers with kindness. In cases of small in- 
fractions of discipline, which they have the right to correct, 
they should take especial care to explain very thoroughly 
in what the infraction consists, that it may not occur 
again through ignorance. The reproof should be given 
in a positive, kindly but firm manner, and in all cases 
where the authority of the sergeant to reprove is not 
clear, he should report the infraction or ojBfence, and the 
circumstances attending it, to the commanding officer of 
the company. The correct instruction of the comj)any 
in tactics and military discipline depends very much 
upon the efforts of the non-commissioned officers. To 
this end they should be carefully instructed in their 
duty by the company officers, so that they may be quali- 
fied to properly drill and discipline the squads under their 
special charge. The commanding officer of the company 
should always maintain the authority of his non-commis- 
sioned officers whenever they are right. Nothing is more 
subversive of discipline than to have the commanding 
officer take sides with the men against the non-commis- 
sioned officer. If the sergeant does wrong he should be 
punished, as any other man in the company would be. 
Where the matter of offense is only an error in judgment, 
the officer committing it should be reproved or corrected 
in a kindly way, but this should never be done in the 
presence of the men, who should be taught to recognize 
the authority of the non-commissioned officer to its 
fullest extent. Non-commissioned officers may be re- 
duced to the ranks by the sentence of a court-martial, or 
by order of the commander of the regiment on applica- 
tion of the company commander. Every non-commis- 



19 

sioned officer should be furnislied with a certificate of 
rank, signed by the colonel and countersigned by the 
adjutant of his regiment. Non-commissioned officers, in 
charge of squads, should be held to a rigid responsibiUty 
for the discipline and drill of the men under them. 
They should never allow replies from the men whom 
they may have had occasion to reprove or correct, and, 
under no circumstance, should they permit any soldier to 
hold their authority in contempt. The soldier, whether 
he be in the right or in the wrong, should first obey, and, 
if he feels that he is aggrieved, he may make his com- 
plaint, in a respectful manner, to the company command- 
er, whose decision should be final. They should be 
particularly careful to enter into no controversy with the 
men in their charge, touching their authority. They 
must demand imphcit obedience, and, if they are unable 
to enforce it, they should report the matter, with as little 
delay as possible, to the commanding officer of the com- 
pany. Sergeants and corporals should be held to a 
rigid responsibility by company commanders for their 
deportment and attention to duty. Each non-commis- 
sioned officer should have complete and exclusive control 
of his own squad, and orders and instructions should be 
issued to him by the commissioned officers of the com- 
pany alone. Whenever it is necessary there should be 
no delay in administering a proper reprimand or punish- 
ment, but this should be done only with a perfect under- 
standing of the case and the strictest regard for justice 
and discipUne. Non-commissioned officers can be re- 
duced to the ranks only in two ways : — the first, as has 
been stated, by order of the regimental commander on 
2 



20 

application of the company commander; the second is 
by sentence of court-martial. If the commanding officer 
of the regiment and of the company do not concur as to 
the propriety of reducing a non-commissioned officer, 
then the course to be pursued is to prefer charges and 
have the case tried by a court-martial. A regimental 
order should always be made to announce the appoint- 
ment of non-commissioned officers, in which the grade 
and date of their appointments shall be distinctly 
stated. The non-commissioned staff of the regiment are 
selected by the colonel alone. The discipline and well- 
being of the company depends, to a great extent, upon 
the intelligence and care used in the selection of its non- 
commissioned officers. When this has been well done, 
the company will be well drilled and thoroughly disci- 
plined, for the sergeants and corporals are of very great 
assistance in governing the men. As the commanding 
officers of companies are the persons most interested, 
and have the best opportunities for judging of the 
qualifications and fitness of the men, the colonel should 
confirm their recommendations, unless there are strong 
and urgent reasons why he should not do so. Company 
commanders, when their commands are not on duty with 
their regiment, may make such temporary appointments 
as are needed, subject, of course, to the approval of the 
colonel. 

OEDEELY SEEGEANTS. 

Commanding officers of companies will select their 
orderly sergeants from the company sergeants. In 
some of the states the orderly sergeant is elected by the 



21 

men, but, for obvious reasons, this practice should be 
abandoned. The orderly sergeant is the executive officer 
of the company, and on him, to a great extent, the cap- 
tain depends for the general drill, discipline and con- 
duct of the company, and, in active service, he has direct 
charge of the rations and company mess. His duties 
are many and varied. He should take care that the 
men are correctly and regularly instructed in their drills. 
He should see that the other sergeants exercise that 
patience and kindness toward the men so necessary to 
their advancement in drill and discipline, and which al- 
ways secure their willing obedience. The orderly ser- 
geant parades the men of his company for drill and for 
their other duties. He should be at the orderly room 
promptly at the appointed hours for official business, 
and he should always be ready to obey the orders of the 
company commander with alacrity, celerity and prompt- 
ness. He should never permit unmilitary conduct in 
the other non-commissioned officers, or the men, with- 
out taking prompt notice of it, and he should instantly 
correct breaches of military discipline to the limit of his 
authority. He should, at all times, demand the closest 
attention, the most rigid fulfillment of duty from the 
other non-commissioned officers and men. He should, 
at once, report to the commanding officer anything he 
has seen which is unbecoming the character of the sol- 
dier and subversive of military disciphne. He receives 
the orders issued by the commanding officer of the regi- 
ment from the sergeant-major, and immediately enters 
them in the company order book. He should show the 
order book to the captain and the other commissioned 



22 

officers of the company as soon as practicable after the 
orders have been entered. The orderly sergeant calls 
the roll of his company whenever it is formed, and it is 
his duty to report all absentees to the commissioned 
officer superintending the roll call, and he, in turn, should 
report them to the adjutant. He should also be present 
at the adjutant's office at orderly call to receive orders. 
He should be present at all parades and turn out the 
company as quickly as possible, notify men detailed for 
any special duty, and then take his position on the right 
of the company and report his roll call to the captain, 
before that officer inspects the company. He should 
pay special attention to keeping the company's roster in 
correct form. He should make out all the details for 
the company and post them in the designated place, in 
order that the men may know who are detailed. When 
on active duty, the orderly sergeant should call upon the 
captain at the hour designated with the morning report, 
which, when signed, should be taken to the adjutant, in 
order that he may make the consolidated regimental or 
post report. He should always be present at guard- 
mounting and parade, and should carefully inspect the 
detail at the sounding of the first call. He should see 
that every article of clothing issued to his men is care- 
fully marked with the company letter and the number 
of the regiment. When the command is in active ser- 
vice the orderly sergeant sees to it that all passes for 
his men are properly made out, signed by the command- 
ing officer of the company, and laid before the proper 
officer at the hour designated for the transaction of 
regimental business. He will also march all men re- 



23 

ported sick to the hospital, at the hour which may be 
appointed, taking with him the sick book, and when the 
surgeon has decided who shall be retained in hospital, 
reported sick in quarters and exempt from duty, he 
will march the men who are fit for duty back to the 
company, and deposit the sick book in the orderly room. 
The orderly sergeant should, in his own person, present 
a model of military disicipline and bearing to the men 
under him. He should cheerfully and promptly obey 
the orders of his superior officers, thereby setting a 
proper example to the men. Petty tyranny toward the 
men by their non-commissioned officers should be strict- 
ly prohibited. They should not be permitted to confine 
a soldier without first reporting the case and its atten- 
dant circumstances to the orderly sergeants, who decides 
what degree of punishment the offense merits. The 
proper discharge of this duty mast be rigidly exacted. 
All violence and abusive language toward the men must 
be prohibited, and the orderly sergeant shall demand 
the strictest observance of good order and military disci- 
pline from his subordinates. As non-commissioned 
officers are supposed to know their duty, they should be 
held to a rigid accountability for any violation of orders. 
The orderly sergeant should promptly take notice of any 
improper or unsoldierly conduct among his men when 
off duty, in order that the good reputation of the com- 
mand may be maintained. If a soldier should refuse to 
obey orders, or resists the authority of any non-commis- 
sioned officer, he should be arrested at once and the case 
reported to the commanding officer of the company. 
The orderly sergeant shoald give the most particular 



24 

attention to the neatness in dress and general appear- 
ance of his men. In fact the discipline and good order 
of the company can only be upheld by the activity, 
intelligence, and thorough knowledge of his duty, which 
the orderly sergeant should have. 

The moment the non-commissioned otBcer becomes 
careless — shows a lack of interest in the discharge of his 
duty — he should be promptly reprimanded, and, if the 
fault continues, he should be reduced, so that the disci- 
pline of the company may not be weakened. The orderly 
sergeant should see that the sergeants and corporals in 
charge of squads properly instruct their men in regard to 
cleaning their arms and their use and preservation. He 
should never permit the non-commissioned officers under 
him to presume upon the inexperience of young commis- 
sioned officers, and all discussions touching the qualifica- 
tions of superior officers, either in praise or censure of 
them, should be rigidly prohibited. He should see that 
no non-commissioned officer, or soldier under him, sends 
any communication to the superior officer without having 
it pass through the proper mihtary channel. Any devia- 
tion from this course is destructive to discipline. A 
soldier-like appearance, activity, readiness for and atten- 
tion to duty, promptitude and obedience to orders, are 
absolute requisites to the orderly sergeant, and are as 
necessary to the position as a thorough knowledge of 
the tactics. 

SEEGEANT-MAJOR. 

The sergeant-major is the first non-commissioned 
officer of the regiment. He is under the immediate 



25 

•direction of tlie adjutant, and all reports will be made to 
that officer and through him the sergeant-major will 
receive the necessary orders and instructions in regard 
to the discipline, routine duty and well-being of the rank 
and file of the regiment. The sergeant-major should 
keep the regimental books. The rosters for guard and 
fatigue duty will be kept separate ; having before him 
the morning reports of the different companies, he will 
select the proper complement of non-commissioned 
officers and men for the duty from each company by 
number only, giving these, with other orders, to the 
orderly sergeants at orderly call. He should see that 
all calls are promptly sounded by the orderly on duty, 
except when the officer of the guard is especially charged 
to see to it, and will thoroughly acquaint himself with the 
duties pertaining to the alignment and formation of the 
guard, turning it over to the adjutant, and the align- 
ment and formation of the battalion for drills, parades, 
inspections and reviews. In these latter he has to judge 
the distance of a company front, and to align the guides 
writh promptness and accuracy, performing for the left 
wmg what the adjutant does for the right. 

He should carefully note all that takes place while the 
regiment is on duty, and promptly report all irregulari- 
ties and breaches of discipline to the adjutant, for the 
information of the commanding officer of the regiment. 
The sergeant-major is entirely under the orders of the 
adjutant, and he is answerable to that officer for his 
promptness, diligence and efficiency. 

The sergeant-major should pay great attention to the 
discipline and morale of the non-commissioned officers. 



26 

He should see that they are diligent in the discharge of 
their duty and impartial and prompt in the exercise of 
their authority and enforcing discipline. When it is 
necessary to reprove them he should do so with dignity 
and firmness, but without harshness. The sergeant- 
major should himself be a model in soldier-like appear- 
ance and discipline for the non-commissioned officers and 
men of his regiment. His position is one of great trust 
and confidence, and his relations to the regiment are 
yery like those of the orderly sergeant to the company. 
He should know how to make up all the regimental re- 
ports and returns, and have sufficient knowledge to be 
able to revise and determine the correctness of all com- 
pany papers. He should understand the orders and 
regulations in regard to the clothing and the rations^ 
ordnance and pay for his regiment whenever it is on 
active service, and he should know the form and author- 
ity for procuring supplies of all kinds for the use of the 
regiment. He should be able to assist with the letters, 
correspondence,, and reports of the regiment. He ought 
also to be well up in the usages and customs of the ser- 
vice, for many matters in relation to them will be referred 
to him by the non-commissioned officers of the companies 
for decision. Proper information in regard to these 
things will add greatly to the professional reputation of 
the sergeant-major, and increase his usefulness to the 
adjutant. The commanding officers of regiments should 
be careful in selecting the sergeant-major, and special 
reference should be had to his fitness for the position. 
The adjutant should find in the sergeant-major such 
assistance as will enable him to discharge the many and 



27 

sometimes difficult duties of his position satisfactorily, 
for there is no post in the service more difficult to fill, 
with credit and efficiency, than that of regimental adju- 
tant. Commissioned officers will see the propriety of 
treating the sergeant-major with due consideration and 
civihty, in order that he may maintain his consequence 
and rank properly among the non-commissioned officers 
of the regiment. Accuracy, punctuality, and intelli- 
gence in the performance of his duty are indispensable in 
the sergeant-major. He should be particularly careful 
not to omit any part of his duty, and never to perform it 
in a careless or unmihtary manner, and any infraction of 
disciphne must never be passed unnoticed by the adju- 
tant or colonel. He should feel the proper esprit de 
corps, and take care not only to support, but to increase 
the good reputatation his regiment may possess. The 
adjutant should instruct the sergeant-major, in order 
that the latter may know his precise duty at all times, 
and understand exactly what is required from him at all 
points touching its performance. No one should be as- 
signed as sergeant-major until he has a thorough ac- 
quaintance with the general duty required of him ; and 
he should be selected with as much regard to his neat 
and soldier-hke appearance as to his military acquire- 
ments. Officers will remember, that the sergeant-major 
is entirely under the orders of the adjutant, and that he 
he has no power whatever to allow them access to the 
company books without the adjutant's order. 

COMPANY OFFICERS. 

One captain, one first and one second Ueutenant consti- 

2-^ 



28 

tute the usual complement of officers to a company, ex- 
cept that in light artillery companies there should be 
one lieutenant for each platoon and one for the line of 
caissons, and in cavalry, when the company can be ad- 
yantageously exercised in three platoons or in field ser- 
vice, especially with a view to forming efficient scouting 
parties, it will be found advisable to have three lieuten- 
ants. 

Company officers are elected by the company, each 
member thereof having one vote ; in emergencies how- 
ever, as fixed by law, the governor may appoint to fill 
vacancies. All commissions are given by the governor 
as commander in chief, and he may, at his discretion, 
withhold a commission from one found to be disqualified 
for the office to which he has been elected. Any quali- 
fied member of the company is eligible to election as an 
officer. 

Companies should be organized within a regimental 
district ; while the members may be residents of one or 
more company districts, it is better to confine the mem- 
bership to one. Application should be made to the 
adjutant-general of the state for "blank forms" for the 
use of the company, these, being usually printed, can be 
furnished, and much irregularity and trouble saved there- 
by. 

Citizens of the state, of proper age and requirements, 
and of a number equal to the mininum of the organiza- 
tion contemplated, (as fixed by state laws) may assemble 
together for the purpose of forming a company, and 
petition the governor of the state for recognition as 
such. In the petition they should designate the persons 



29 

chosen by them for captain and lieutenants ; that 
they are not members of any other military organization ; 
and should give, in full, the name, age, and residence of 
each petitioner. This petition should be forwarded to 
the governor through the commanding officer of the 
regimental district. Uniforms, arms and equipments 
must be of the pattern fixed by law, unless the com- 
mander in chief otherwise gives special authority. 

The members of the company are required to furnish 
their own uniforms and equipments, with such aid only as 
may be provided by state law. Under the mihtary code of 
the state of New York the money furnished for this pur- 
pose is disbursed by county treasurers, on vouchers for 
purcliases made by the auditing boards of the regiments 
or separate companies, which vouchers must be ap- 
proved by the adjutant-general before payment can 
be made by the treasurer. 

Commissioned officers are required to furnish their 
own arms, uniforms and equipments. Arms for non- 
commissioned officers and privates are furnished by the 
chief ordnance officer of the state, on requisitions of the 
company commanders made and forwarded through in- 
termediate commmanders for the approval of the com- 
mander in chief. The requisition must set forth the 
number and kinds of ordnance and ordnance stores re- 
quired, and the facts that go to make the application 
necessary. A captain is the officer usually charged with 
the enrollment of persons hable to military duty and 
residing within his company district, such enrollment 
being made under the law and military regulations of 
the state, with which latter, for the proper performance 



30 

of this and other military duties, he should make himself 
thoroughly famihar. He should be possessed of the 
fullest statistics in regard to the military personnel of his 
district, having on file records showing the name, age, 
and residence of all persons who could be called upon 
to perform mihtary duty, and if any persons are exempt^ 
stating opposite their names that fact and the cause there- 
of, to the end that he may be able to act intelligibly in 
furnishing information called for, and in making new 
enrollment lists. 

To promote the true effectivness of a body of soldiery 
the captain may well be regarded as occupying a most 
important position ; he is directly responsible for the 
well-being and discipline of the company, which is com- 
posed of a hmited number of men ; in order that his- 
supervision may be carefully and thoroughly carried 
out, he is expected to heartily work, that the company 
may be an organization of individual soldiers where each 
is carefully instructed in drill, guard, barrack and police 
duties, in the maintenance of proper order and cleanliness^ 
and in the care of arms and accoutrements. He should es- 
pecially endeavor to advance military knowledge through 
juducious instructions, and by inviting attention to stand- 
ard works, and seek to induce each one to achieve a 
manly and soldierly standard, to let each soldier under- 
stand that he is in himself an important factor and that 
effectiveness must begin with him. It is easy for a cap- 
tain to command thorough soldiers, but, just in the measure 
that a proper standard is not reached will an earnest 
officer find trouble, annoyance and humiliation. In his 
endeavors to thus promote efficiency in the company 



31 

lieutenants must give their hearty support and co-opera- 
tion, as they are required to assist the captain in the 
performance of all company duties. Captains are en- 
joined to so distribute the duties to subalterns as to in- 
sure this support, and have them understand that their ac- 
tive personal co-operation is needed. The captain should 
have the dictum as to the appointment of non-commis- 
sioned officers, since he must rely so much upon them 
and have their hearty co-operation in the management 
of the internal economy of the company. It should be 
borne in mind that, both with respect to the individual 
and the company, the responsibility of its commanding 
officer begins with the enhstment of a member, continues 
with his term, and only terminates when the discharge 
has been given. As far as possible only those should 
be enlisted who are likely to do the company and them- 
selves credit ; the law prohibits the enlistment of certain 
persons, but othermse care may well be exercised in the 
case. On discharge, a soldierly character should not be 
given but to those who well deserve it. 

For the purpose of securing order and discipline the 
company will be numbered from one upward, beginning 
with the orderly sergeant, then divided into squads, over 
each of which a non-commissioned officer should be 
placed ; as far as possible the members of each squad 
should be quartered together. In armories the numbers 
will be used to designate the place for the arms and ac- 
coutrements of each member, the accoutrements being 
also numbered, wliile the arms may be known by the 
manufacturer's number, and this should be entered 
against the name of each member on issue and a memo- 



32 

xanclum of the same given the soldier. Having super- 
vised the fitting of accoutrements to each soldier no 
changes should be allowed to be made, and any deface- 
ment of arms or accoutrements, by marks, should be 
strictly prohibited. A non-commissioned officer should 
be placed in charge of the armory and held responsible 
that each one's arms are properly returned. 

Whenever the company is paraded inspection should 
be made to see that the men are properly uniformed, 
that the clothing is clean and well kept, the arms clean 
and fi^ee from rust, and the accoutrements bright and 
clean ; as far as possible no permission should be given 
to dismount arms for the purpose of cleaning them. 
The following is taken from a pamphlet entitled, " De- 
scription and Eules for the management of the Spring- 
field Eifles, Carbine and Colt's Revolver, Cal. 45," and 
published by the Ordnance Department, U. S. Army. 

TO CLEAN THE BAEREL. 

" 1. Draw a rag through the slot in the head of the 
ramrod ; moisten or wet it with water (warm if it can be 
had) and pass it up and down through the bore, from 
muzzle to chamber, until all the residuum is removed 
or so moistened and dissolved that it may be entirely 
removed with a dry rag. 

" 2. Replace the wet rag by a dry one and wipe the 
bore as before, changing the rag until the bore is per- 
fectly clean ; take pains to see that the w^ell of the cham- 
ber is carefully wiped and cleaned out, and that the sur- 
faces of the cam and breech screw are free from dirt, 
dust and rust. 



" 3. Wipe the outside of all metal parts, the bore, well 
of the receiver, and surfaces of the cam and breech 
screw, with a slightly oiled rag. 

" 4. To clean the exterior of the barrel lay it flat on a 
bench or board, to avoid bending it ; since the arms now 
issued are browned, abrasive substances, such as emery, 
tripoli, sand-paper, etc., should never be used to clean 
them. If the browned parts become rusty they should 
be rubbed down with a scratch brush, and then oiled. 

" 5. After firing, the bore should always be wiped with 
a wet rag as soon as practicable, afterwards wipe it dry, 
and then pass into it a rag moistened with oil. 

TO CLEAN THE LOCK. 

''Wipe every part with a moist rag and then a dry 
one ; if any part of the exterior shows rust put a drop of 
oil on the point or end of a piece of soft wood dipped 
into flour of emery ; rub out the rust clean and wipe the 
surface dry, then rub every part with a slightly oiled 
rag." 

Cartridges, when carried, should be kept clean, since 
any dirt or other substance on the outside of the shell 
will prevent its properly fitting the chamber. 

Should it be found, on inspection, that any soldier is 
not properly uniformed and equipped, his fault should be 
pointed out and he should be subjected to another in- 
spection as soon thereafter as practicable. Cleanliness 
of person should be enforced. 

Company officers must be prompt in attendance upon 
roll calls, and non-commissioned officers strictly charged 
to report delinquencies on the part of the men ; a commis- 



34 

sioned officer at each roll call receives the report of the 
orderly sergeant, and the absentees are reported to the 
colonel or commanding officer by the company command- 
er. Any carelessness or unsoldierly conduct on the part 
of the men in ranks should be promptly corrected. 

Whenever practicable in field service the men should 
cook their own rations in quarters ; cooks are detailed by 
rotation (from the rosterj, the usual period for this or 
other special company details is ten days. A non-com- 
misioned officer should be placed in charge of the kitch- 
en, and frequent inspections made to insure the good 
quality of the food and cooking and order and cleanli- 
ness of the kitchen and utensils. Food that is unfit for 
use when received should be at once returned to the 
commissary. 

In camp the tents must be kept properly ahgned, the 
grounds policed morning and afternoon, and inspection 
made before morning and evening parade, to see that 
the tents are neat and in order and the bedding properly 
piled. 

The captain is responsible for the condition and safe 
keeping of ordnance and ordnance stores belonging to 
his command, not in use with the troops, and should 
see that they are kept in good order for use ; he is also 
responsible for the condition and safe keeping of com- 
pany property of every description, not personally in 
use by the men. Stores in personal use by them,, 
whether arms, accoutrements, camp equipage or horse 
equipments, are charged against them, to be kept in 
good order and condition ; they are held individually 
responsible for them, to be paid for if lost or destroyed. 



35 

Field artillery with the company must be kept in the 
best condition, and, when not in use, carefully covered, 
for protection from the weather. 

In artillery and cavalry in active service, a commis- 
sioned officer should superintend the grooming of the 
horses, which is done twice each day — early in the morn- 
ing and about four in the afternoon. 

In warm weather horses should be watered about six 
and eleven, A. M., and four p. M. ; in the wmter, the last 
two will be sufficient. 

Company officers should do all in their power to pro- 
mote the comfort and well-being of the men ; harshness, 
or violence, or like unwarrantable exercise of authority, 
cannot be too strongly condemned. Anger should never 
be exhibited. The strictest disciphne can be enforced 
by gentle, yet firm treatment ; a proper respect and 
deference can be best secured by remembering what is 
due to others. The members of the company will be 
addressed by their official title. Let no opportunity be 
neglected to convince the men that their officers (as 
such) are their friends, for the office carries with it the 
obligation. The deserving should be encouraged, and 
praise given when merited ; a few words of commenda- 
tion to the company, when on occasion it has acquitted 
itself creditably, will go far towards establishing a 
proper "esprit du corps'' 

The prerogative of confinement of men under the 
guard should be exercised with care ; it should be looked 
upon as a disgrace, and be used only as a last resort to 
enforce authority. 

The word gross^ in military parlance, is applied to an 



36 

exhibition of ignorance of duty on the part of an officer 
or soldier ; it amounts to an epithet, and is what no 
officer can afford to have applied to him. One might 
say it is particularly apphcable to a lack of tactical 
knowledge, for it is in the presence of the company that 
an exhibition of grossness in drill, parade, review, &c., 
not only subjects the officer himself to humiliation, but 
his company as well. There will always be men in the 
company who know enough to detect the error, and who 
will feel that the officer they have selected to instruct 
them, who should be the best soldier of them all, is 
either incompetent or careless. 

However bright or self-possessed an officer may be, he 
cannot appear to advantage before the company, or 
others, without a thorough knowledge of his duty. His 
commands must be delivered promptly and clearly ; 
there should be no uncertainty or hesitation ; the posi- 
tions, motions, manual commands and^ ceremonies are 
laid down exactly in the tactics for the instruction of a 
soldier who takes pride in his command and wishes to do 
his company and himself credit. There is no doubt that 
our national guards will select for themselves men fully 
competent to perform the duties of an officer : let no 
man underrate the compliment and responsibility thus 
bestowed upon him. The mode of selection is one that, 
in itself, may be made to accomplish a most desirable re- 
sult — that of having an officer, who, at the start, 
is personally popular with his company ; who is se- 
lected by them because of his supposed fitness for the 
office. How this popularity is to be retained and fit- 
ness for the position demonstrated can be safely said is, 



.37 

in the military profession above all others, to know 
one's duty and to do it. It is not supposed that an 
officer can, when first on duty, by the study alone of the 
principles and minutiae of his profession, evince the ease 
and grace of a veteran, but this study must be first fol- 
lowed by and afterward combined with all the practi- 
cal knowledge attainable. In our national guards, in 
time of peace, the opportunities for obtaining practical 
knowledge are hmited. Let every newly selected officer, 
when he comes to practice his profession, see that his 
book of tactics and of regulations is at hand for ready 
reference and frequent consultation ; let him remember 
the short time to be spent on this practical duty, and 
then the necessity for a previous close study of these 
and other books bearing on the subject wiU scarcely be 
disputed. What to do, and how to do it, is not a ques- 
tion for an officer to have to ask himself in the presence 
of the company ; he should meet and overcome the diffi- 
culty beforehand. 

The subject of target practice is now attracting so 
much attention, and is so universally and energetically 
carried out, that no attempt need here be made to mag- 
nify its importance. It is self-evident that, when called 
into action, troops should not only not be afraid of the 
report of their own guns but should also be expert 
marksmen. One officer is usually specially assigned to 
superintend the target jDractice of each brigade, but 
captains are charged with the immediate supervision of 
the practice of their companies. 

Officers should, by their example, encourage military 
bearing and promptness in the discharge of duty. 



38 

Lieutenants, in their position as file-closers, are held 
responsible for the military bearing and good order of 
the company in ranks ; probably nothing tends more to 
cause a low estimate to be formed of the company than 
to observe carelessness amongst either officers or men 
when the company is at attention ; either in marching or 
at a halt, self-pride and the common interest should 
prevent looking around, careless carriage, or careless 
holding of the piece. It would seem to be only necessary 
that any soldier should observe these faults in others, 
and their bad effects, to prevent their occurrence with 
himself. 

The time for reveille and other roll calls and duties, 
and the kind and amount of drill, is, in a regimental or 
battalion organization, designated by regimental order ; 
in an independent company, by company order ; in either 
case the captains of companies are responsible that each 
member of the company is properly notified. This may 
be done by himself directly or through his subalterns or 
non-commissioned officers, and also, either by a written 
order over his signature, which should be shown to the 
members, when practicable, or else left at their resi- 
dences or usual places of business, or mailed to their 
post office address. The order may be communicated 
verbally to the members by himself or the same officers 
in their official capacity ; but all orders which in any 
manner affect the company or its members, and which 
are not read to the battalion by the adjutant, should be 
read by the orderly sergeant to the company when it is 
assembled in ranks. 

It is desired, particularly, to invite the attention of 



39 

company commanders to the necessity for the company 
to be well exercised in skirmish drill, and the captain 
should make good use of whatever latitude may be 
allowed him in the selection of drills. The movements 
should invariably be sounded by the bugler, and the order 
repeated by the officers, so that officers and men may 
be well acquainted with the bugle calls, upon which 
alone reliance can be placed in the noise and confusion 
attendant upon firing. Officers and men should, at other 
times, learn the calls, so as to be able to obey them 
promptly. 

Company books, returns, and reports are intended to 
preserve a complete record of all official matters relat- 
ing to the company, and to give to the proper authorities 
such information in regard thereto as may be required 
from time to time, either at stated intervals or on special 
occasion; they should be neatly kept and posted to 
date, and for this the captain is responsible. A member 
of the company should be designated by him as company 
clerk, to act under the immediate supervision of the 
orderly sergeant ; such detail should not wholly exempt 
the member from drill and guard duty, and of these he 
will perform such as the captain may deem necessary 
for instruction, but he should be excused from police 
and other temporary duty. 

If possible, a book should be kept, containing an his- 
torical sketch of the company, of its meetings and 
organization, membership, elections and by-laws ; these 
may refer to rules of admission, behavior, dismissals, 
fines, etc., and may fix times for additional drills, but 
must not conflict with state laws or regulations. 



40 

A descriptive book will be kept containing lists of the 
officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians and pri- 
vates of the company, the lists to be kept separately, 
an appropriate division of the book being made for each, 
and spaces left after each number in the different series 
for remarks. This book should contain a full description 
of each person, as age, identification and election or 
enlistment, and, under remarks, everything relating to 
his military history, discharge, character, transfer, pre- 
vious service, etc.; here may also, very properlj^, be entered 
the clothing that may have been issued by the captain — 
otherwise a separate book may be kept for this purpose — 
but the necessity for a second book is not so apparent 
as in the regular service, where the clothing allowance 
forms part of the pay, and the account is balanced at the 
end of each six months. It must be clearly impressed 
that the unauthorized disposal of any uniforms or arms 
and equipments is a misdemeanor under the law. 

The captain is responsible, personally, to the state for 
the arms and equipments of his command, and he issues 
them as he deems fit, and the account will not necessarily 
form a part of the company records ; he must take 
vouchers for their issue, and he may recall them at any 
time. 

An order book should be kept, in which will be entered 
all orders issued by the captain. On being entered each 
order will be signed by himseK, in the same manner as 
the original. Copies of general and special orders 
received from general or superior headquarters will be 
filed separately and preserved. 

A letter book should be kept, in which will be 



41 

entered all official letters of the captain, and his endorse- ^ 
ment on letters passing through his hands ; the entries 
in this book should also be signed by him. 

Letters received should be endorsed with date, name, 
and rank of writer and nature of contents, then be 
numbered for each year and filed ; a letters received 
book may be kept ; an endorsement book, in which 
should be entered the endorsements as above in the 
order of their numbers. 

All books should be indexed, but, except in the his- 
torical record and order books, in which there should be 
both an index of names and subjects, an index of names 
will be sufficient. 

The muster roll must be made ready by the captain 
on annual or other regular inspection and muster days, 
for the information of the inspector. This roll is meant 
to show the active strength of the company at date of 
muster and all changes that have occurred in it since 
the last muster : the rolls are made on blank forms 
furnished by the adjutant-general, and in accordance 
with directions printed thereon. 

The company return is made monthly in the regular 
service. By the regulations of the State of New York it 
is made quarterly in the militia of that state ; printed 
directions for making the returns will be found on the 
blanks. One copy of each of the two preceding should 
be retained by the company commander. Other special 
reports and returns may be called for by state regula- 
tions. 

In the transfer of a member from one company to 
another, a descriptive list should be made and certified 



42 

by the commandant of the first company ; this would be 
an extract from the company descriptive book ; should 
also designate and state the value of property of the state 
lost, destroyed or injured, and remaining charged against 
him. 

In the state of New York, regimental or battahon 
commanders make annual returns for the arms and 
equipments in use in the different infantry companies ; 
the captains of the companies give bonds for their safe 
keeping and take personal receipts from the members 
of the company on issue; commandants of separate 
troops and batteries make the same returns for their 
companies as do the regimental commanders for the in- 
fantry regiments. 

The camp and garrison equipage, being only required 
at the annual encampment, requisitions for stores re- 
quired are made by the company commanders on the 
quartermaster-general through the regimental com- 
mander, and by commandants of separate companies 
through the proper channels to the quartermaster-gene- 
ral ; at the expiration of the encampment the stores are 
to be returned in good condition to the custody of the 
quartermaster-general. These regulations differ essen- 
tially from those of the regular service, where each com- 
mandant of company makes separate returns to the 
heads of the different staff departments for stores in his 
charge belonging to that department ; all stores being 
permanently in his charge, having been received on 
proper requisition. 

Lieutenants should familiarize themselves with com- 
pany books and papers ; company officers may frequently 



43 

he called upon to perform court-martial duty, as mem- 
bers and recorders ; this duty requires good judgment, 
care and forethought, a thorough knowledge of the regu- 
lations of the state, of the rules governing courts-mar- 
tial, of their mode of procedure and form of record. 
Officers will remember, that when called into the service 
of the United States they will be subject to the rules and 
articles of war governing the armies thereof; on this 
subject officers are recommended for reference to 
'^ Benet's Mihtary Law and the Practice of Courts-Mar- 
tial" and " The Judge Advocate and Recorder's Guide " 
by Lt. Eeagan, U. S. Army. 

Captains will be called upon to perform duty as officers 
of the day, and lieutenants as officers of the guard. The 
officer of the day reports to the commanding officer for 
orders, immediately after the guard has been mounted 
and he has received the prisoners from the old officer of 
the day. He is, for the day, the executive officer of the 
camp or garrison, and is responsible to the commanding 
officer for its police and discipline ; he has charge of the 
giiard and prisoners ; one, or sometimes two lieutenants 
have, under him, the immediate command of the guard, ju- 
nior lieutenants being detailed under the more experienced 
to accustom them to the duties, the number of officers 
also depending upon the size of the guard. The officers 
of the guard are usually required to visit each sentinel 
while on post, at least during one day reKef and one 
night relief, and to properly instruct him in all his du- 
ties ; the officer of the day makes rounds to find if senti- 
nels have been properly instructed. 

• No part of the soldier's instruction is more important, 
3 



44 

and they stould be carefully instructed in their duties 
as sentinels. On being relieved the officer of the day 
makes, each morning, to the commanding officer a " morn- 
ing report" of the guard and prisoners, and of the 
property at the guard house, and he should invite the 
attention of the commanding officer to any public matter 
about the garrison or camp which, in his judgment, re-^ 
quires attention. 

Officers should accustom themselves to observe care-^ 
fully the topography of the country and its most minute 
resources ; this study should be made comprehensively, 
and to this end a previous close study of the best attain- 
able maps is essential. The maps will give a good gen« 
eral idea of the topography, at least of the principal 
drainage basins and the main traveled roads. Very 
little of our country is sufficiently well mapped to show 
the particular character of the mountains and hills whick 
form the main ridges and the spurs (divides) between 
the rivers and between tributaries of the same river, or 
in other words, the main and subsidiary water sheds of 
the country ; nor will the maps give sufficiently minute 
characteristics of particular localities, whether wooded 
or open, whether broken (if only slightly) or rolling,, 
or plain ; or the character of the stream beds, their 
width, depth and important approaches ; and often not 
even the bridges — certainly not the availabihty of mater- 
ial for constructing them. This knowledge can only be 
obtained by habituating one's self to close observation and 
study of the country, combined with study of the maps. 
The character of the roads should be observed, whether 
hilly or not, sandy or firm, or liable to be broken in wet 



45 

weather. One should be accustomed to particularly ob- 
serve the agricultural resources of the country, and the 
different springs, where water is at all scarce. In active 
service, particularly in conducting scouting parties, or 
whenever an oflBcer may be detached from the main 
body of the troops, this comprehensive knowledge is 
most essential. He should not be compelled to rely solely 
upon information furnished by people who may be hos- 
tile to him ; it should be endeavored to possess that 
sort of knowledge which belongs to the Indian, and 
which has undoubtedly come to him through the educa- 
tion of his forefathers and his own habits of life. 
Whether on the road or in the mountains, one should 
not have the sense of being lost ; if a stream is encoun- 
tered, and it is known by its direction and size what other 
stream it is going to augment, then one will know the 
locality and how to direct the march. Roads, too, it 
must be remembered, are built with a definite purpose ; 
their direction and the amount of travel on them will 
often tell much that is desired to be known. Officers 
are commanded to make this matter a careful study, and, 
whenever opportunity offers, to make full and complete 
notes of marches, so that an exact impress of the coun- 
try wiU remain on the mind. 



46 
THE EEGIME^TAL STAFF. 



THE ADJUTANT. 



The adjutant is appointed by the colonel from the first 
lieutenants of the regiment. 

It is his duty to reduce to writing the orders of the 
commanding officer, and to see that they are duly de- 
livered to those for whom they are intended. It is well 
to have the orderly delivering them furnished with a re- 
ceipt or delivery book, and to request that the date and 
hour of the receipt of all orders and communications 
be written in it by the officers to whom they are di- 
rected. 

Great care should be taken in the preparation and 
preservation of the entire official records of the com- 
mand. The serjeant-major and band are under the im- 
mediate command of the adjutant, just as much as a com- 
pany is under the discipline of its captain, and he should 
look after their equipments, make out their muster and 
pay rolls, witness their payment, and prepare their final 
statements in case of death or discharge. An order an- 
nouncing the hours of routine service should be prepared 
on the first of every month under the supervision and 
direction of the commanding officer, and announced to 
the command in general orders. The adjutant will see 
that the service calls are properly and promptly made, 
and he should superintend the mounting of the guard, 
as prescribed in tactics. He should select the most 
soldierly appearing men for orderhes. It is made his 



47 

duty to see that the men are fully supplied with all that 
they need for the proper performance of their duty during 
their tour. Should any soldier be turned on for duty 
who is sick or otherwise unfit for it, he should at once 
be returned to the company to which he belongs and 
another detailed therefrom, and the facts reported to 
the commanding officer. Too much care cannot be 
taken to keep the commanding officer informed of all 
official acts done in his name ; and, except in purely 
routine matters, his name should never be assumed or 
anticipated ; and, in carrying orders and instructions, 
care should be exercised, to the end that they are de- 
livered as the orders of the commanding officer. The 
adjutant gives orders for the discipline of the orderlies 
and the band, as the commanding officer thereof. 

At the hour announced in the service calls the ad- 
jutant will see that the morning reports of the several 
companies and detachments are consolidated and pre- 
sented for the signature of the commanding officer. 
The adjutant should never appear for duty unless 
dressed in the prescribed uniform, and, in his inspections 
at guard mounting, he should be prompt to report the 
absence of complete uniform or equipments in any officer 
or man of the guard. In case a commissioned officer is 
not properly uniformed or equipped it should at once 
be made known to the commanding officer for his action. 
In the case of an enlisted man, he will be returned to 
his company as unfit for duty. 

In the absence of a chaplain, custom, in the regular 
army, has made it the duty of the adjutant to read the 
burial service at the funeral of either officers or men. 



48 

Whenever the command has guests the adjutant should 
especially see that all are properly provided for. 

In short, the adjutant should, on all occasions, be the 
embodiment of an officer and gentleman in the full sense 
of the word. On his sense, discretion and deportment, 
the good feeling, as well as the reputation of the regi- 
ment, often depends. 

The adjutant receives the reports of company and 
detachment commanders at all stated roll calls. For 
this purpose, while the roll call is being made, he will 
take his station near the centre of the parade ground. 
He salutes those who are his seniors at their arrival 
within six paces of his station. Those who are his 
juniors should salute him on arriving within six paces. 
The results of the several roll calls should be promptly 
reported to the commanding officer. 

The placing of a commissioned officer in arrest is 
habitually done by the commanding officer through his 
adjutant. The performance of this duty often calls for 
much delicate tact and self-possession. In full uniform, 
he should proceed to the officer's quarters, at once and 
without comment, and discharge the duty upon which 
he is sent. The usual form is to address the officer 
as follows : " Sir, the commanding officer directs that 
you consider yourseK in arrest," and, unless otherwise 
directed, he will receive the officer's sword and deliver 
the same to the commanding officer. The taking of the 
sword has been, to a great extent, dispensed with in the 
regular service. In returning an officer to duty the 
adjutant should say to him : " Sir, I am directed by the 
commanding officer to inform you that you are released 



49 

from arrest." The execution of this order will at once 
te reported. In giving verbal orders the adjutant 
should be careful to say, " The commanding officer 
directs," &c., &c. All communications pertaining to 
official business should be submitted in proper form for 
the action of the commanding officer. Those not made in 
proper form should be returned for correction ; and, if 
written by a young or inexperienced officer, the error or 
informality should be pointed out and explained, in 
order that he may know how to correct it. 

The adjutant should always add his rank and the 
number of his regiment to his signature, thus : " John 
Smith, 1st Lieutenant, First Infantry, Adjutant." 
This is too often omitted, and whenever it is neglected 
the commanding officer should return the papers to the 
adjutant, that they may be properly signed. Whenever 
a new colonel succeeds to the command of a regiment, 
it is the custom for the commissioned staff to tender 
their resignations (as staff officers only). As a general 
thing, a new colonel is pleased to avail himself of the 
experience and training of the old staff. This being the 
case, such action affords him opportunity for an ex- 
pression of confidence, &c., otherwise he can choose his 
staff to his liking, without giving offense. An officer 
junior in rank to a colonel, in assuming temporary com- 
mand, is not warranted in making a new staff. 

Some suggestions in relation to the folding, briefing 
and endorsing official communications are pertinent in 
connection with the duties of adjutant, and they may 
also be found useful to staff officers of all ranks. 



50 

The following rules, in use by the regular army, are 
probably the simplest and most complete : 

I. Whenever more than three pages of the sheet used 
are required for the body of the communication an ad- 
ditional haK sheet or more, if necessary, will be neatly 
pasted to the first sheet, so that the outer page may be 
left entirely blank. 

II. Letter paper will be folded in three, foolscap in 
four equal folds, parallel with the writing. The inner 
edge of the sheet is the top when folded. The left hand 
fold of the outer page is the first fold. 

III. The first fold is used exclusively for a brief 
analysis of the contents of the original communication^ 
the office marks, and noting of inclosures. 

rV. Endorsements commence at top of the second 
fold and follow each other in regular order of date om 
the successive folds, leaving room after each for office 
marks. 

V. In no case will a loose wrapper be placed around 
an official paper, except as a mere covering ; but addi- 
tional space for endorsements will be provided by neatly 
pasting slips of paper on the under side of the last fold — 
right hand edge of the original paper — each slip to cor- 
correspond in length and width (when pasted on) with 
the length and width of the original folds, and to turn 
back upon the last fold like the leaves of a book. Bj 
this arrangement the first fold, on which the office marks; 
and briefs are made, is always outside. 



51 

VI. AH inclosures are numbered and bear the proper 
office marks. Inclosures of the original communication 
are noted on the first fold, just below the brief. If others 
are added when an endorsement is made the number of 
them is noted at the foot of their appropriate endorse- 
ment, and also on the first fold of the original communi- 
cation, and to the latter notation is added the number of 
the endorsement to which they belong, thus : One Inclos- 
ure — Fifth Endorsement. Inclosures to endorsements are 
numbered in the same series as those to the original pa- 
per, and the number of the endorsement to which they 
belong is added below. 

If few in number and not bulky, inclosures may be 
kept inside the original paper. If otherwise, they will 
be folded together in a wrapper marked "inclos- 
ures," as an accompanying package. 

VII. Officers through whose hands official papers pass 
will make the inclosures and slips attached secure when 
they are not so. 

VIII. A model is herewith appended for reference, 
and the observance of this system is to be required. 

Inclosures of official papers are numbered consecu- 
tively. 

For example : If a communication covers one 
inclosure it is numbered 1 above the office marks of the 
original letter, (see inclosure No. 1 of model). When an 
officer to whom it is referred incloses a paper in addition 
to his endorsement, the additional inclosure is numbered 
2, and below the office marks is noted the number of the 
3^ 



52 

endorsement made by the officer submitting the inclos- 
ure, (see inclosure No. 2 of model.) 

The original inclosnres are noted on the first fold of 
the letter covering them, just below the brief, and below 
this are noted, successively, the inclosures of the several 
endorsements, (see first fold of model). 

Fort 



Julv , 18— 

Sir: 

[Acknowledges reference to him of anonymous letter 
making certain complaints, and furnishes evidence of 
falsity of charges contained therein. Is of opinion, 
after careful examination of the chirography of the com- 
munication, that a certain soldier on duty as clerk at 
Department Headquarters is the anonymous corres- 
pondent.] 

W. L. E., 

Captain Co. ^' A" IstU. S. 

The Commanding Officer 

Fort . 



First Endorsement. 

War Dept., 

June — , 18 — . 
Respectfully referred to the Adjutant-General for 
investigation and report. 

By order of the Sec. of War : 



J. p., 

Chief Clerk. 



E-B.^25 



53 

Second Endorsement. 

Adjutant-General's Office. 

June — , 18 — 
"Respectfully referred to the Commanding General, 

Department of (througli Division Headquarters) 

for a thorougli investigation of this case. 

E. D. T., 

Adjutant-General. 



Third Endorsement. 

Hdqrs. Mil. Div. of , 

July— 18— 
Respectfully referred to General S. commanding 

Department of 

By order of Major General E- 



E, B, ^4Q 



8. H. W. 

Asst. Adjt. Gen. 



Fourth Endorsement. 

Hdqrs. Dept. of 

July — , 18— 
Hespectfully referred to the commanding officer of 

Port , who will inquire into the assertions contained 

in the anonymous letter, and submit a full report on the 
subject. 

By order of Brig. Gen. W , 



E. B,-j^5 



J. B. D., 

Asst. Adjt. Gen, 



54 

Fifth Endorsement. 
Fort- 



July — , 18 — 
Respectfully returned to tlie General commanding 

the Department of , and his attention invited to 

the inclosed statement of Captain E , commanding 

Company " A " 1st U. S. 

C. F. B., 

Commanding Post, 

E-B.-[oo (One Inclosure.) 



Sixth Endorsement. 

Hdqrs. Dept. of , 

July — , 18—. 
Respectfully returned to the Headquarters of the 

Army, through Headquarters Mihtary Diyision . 

The clerk at Dept. Headquarters emphatically 
denies any knowledge of the complainant or being con- 
cerned in the matter. 

E. W. S. 

Brig. Gen. Commanding^ 

E.B. ' 



E. B. 450 



314 






Bex)entli Endorsement. 




Hdqrs. Mil. Div. of , 




July ,18 . 


Respecti 


•ully forwarded. 




G. H. R., 


3 


Maj. Gen. Commanding. 



55 

Eighth Endorsement. 

Hdqrs. of the Army. 

July — , 18—. 

Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of "War for 

his information. 

W. T. S. 

Gen. of the Army. 
7 
E. B.^ 



1380 D. D., , 1870. 

400 A. G. O., , 1870. 

250 Div. of , , 1870. 

187 Div. of , , 1870. 

Fort , 

June 1, 18 — . 
Captain W. L. E. , 



1st U. S. 



One of the privates of Captaiti E 's Company 

complains, anonymously, of mode of punishment adopt- 
ed by certain officers, &c., &c. 



(One Inclosure.) 
(One Inclosure — Fifth Endorsement.) 
Eec'd back, A. G. O., July — 1870. 

Eec'd back, Div. of , July — , 1870. 

Eec'd back, Dept. of , July—, 1870. 

Eec'd, Dept. of , July — , 1870. 

Eec'd, Div. of , July — , 1870. 

Eec'd, A. G. O., June — , 1870. 
Eec'd, W. D., June — , 1870. 



56 

Fort 

June 1, 18 — , 
To 

The Honorable 

Secretary of War. 

Sir: 

[Complaints that certain 
officers at this post disregard the Eegulations and inflict 
punishment arbitrarily. Does not send this paper 
through the proper channel of correspondence, as he 
fears the complaint would not be forwarded, but sends 

it to a friend in , who will give it 

the proper direction.] 

A Private of Captain E 's 

Company, ( '^ A" ) 1st U. S. 



REGIMENTAL QUARTERMASTER. 

The regimentarl quartermaster is nominated for his 
position by the commanding officer of the regiment. 
His appointment must be approved by the superior offi- 
cers up to the governor. This officer has the rank of 
first heutenant. He should be selected with regard to 
his special qualifications. There is no position in the 
command which is so difficult to fill, and where the useful- 
ness and intelligence of the officer can be more readily 
developed than in the position of regimental quarter- 
master. 

It will be difficult, in the scope of this work, to do more 
than to outline his duties. The regimental quartermas- 
ter is governed by the regulations and customs which 



57 

apply to quartermasters in general. He is responsible, 
and can be made liable for money and property belong- 
ing to his regiment, as quartermasters are in any other 
department. He can be relieved from his position by the 
commanding officer at will. As he is appointed by the 
colonel, he can be relieved by him. The regimental 
quartermaster supplies the wants of his regiment. He 
should obtain from the commanding officers of compan- 
ies their estimates of and requisitions for supplies. 
He will see that these are correct, and will promptly re- 
turn them in the case of any inaccuracy in their make-up. 
When the requisitions of all the company commanders 
in the regiment have been received, he consolidates 
them, procures the supplies and issues them. A safe 
rule for the quartermaster is never to take anything with- 
out giving a receipt, nor give anything without taking 
a receipt. The quartermaster must be ready to sustain 
and verify business of his department by the receipts of 
the officers to whom the supplies have been issued, and 
also for disbursements of all kinds. These are made in 
the required form, blanks for which can be obtained from 
the quartermaster-general of the state. Quartermasters 
will bear in mind that all property must be accounted 
for, whether it came into their possession by transfer, by 
purchase, or by saving. The returns should show wheth- 
er the property has been transferred or was issued orig- 
inally to the quartermaster from headquarters, or by 
whatever means it may have been obtained. Care should 
be taken to obtain proper invoices, signed by the officer 
from whom the property has been received. An inven- 
tory should be made, certified to by the proper officer, in 



58 

case a formal invoice is not received with the property. 
In the transfers of property the receipts should be in 
proper form. In every instance the quarter-master should 
show the authority of his superior officer for any official 
act. All quartermaster's papers must be carefully filed, 
in order that the quartermaster may be able to make an 
exhibit of his affairs at any time it may be demanded. 
Quartermasters will remember that returns for clothing 
and camp and garrison equipage must be kept separate 
from other returns, and so accounted for. Different kinds 
of property should never be mentioned in one invoice 
receipt. The property of one department cannot be trans- 
ferred to another without special orders. 

Therefore, all invoices, receipts and returns, in relation 
to ordnance property, commissary and quartermaster's 
stores, clothing, camp and garrison equipage and ammu- 
nition, must be made separately, and the accounts must 
be kept separately. In the militia, as a rule, the quar- 
termaster will have no disbursements of money to make, 
and, therefore, his duties are light, being confined to the 
procuring of supplies and filling the requisitions of the 
proper officers of his regiment. It would be well, how- 
ever, for him to make himself thoroughly familiar with 
all the duties that may be allotted to him as quarter- 
master, even though he may never have occasion to use 
his knowledge practically of them. 

The article in this work on the duties of the quartermas- 
ter-generals will furnish all additional information 
which may be required, as the duties of the regimental 
quartermaster do not differ materially from those of an 
officer of this department in the general staff. 



59 . 

A quartermaster's-sergeant is selected by the quarter- 
master, and is under his immediate direction. As the 
duties of the quartermaster and commissary are usually 
blended, whenever action in the latter capacity is neces- 
sary the quartermaster is responsible for the quality 
and quantity of provisions, and such other things as 
belong to the commissary, which are issued to the 
regiment. No issue of provisions should be allowed 
until the proper provision returns have been made out 
by the commander of the company and approved by the 
commanding officer of the regiment. 

Provisions should always be delivered to the troops 
of good quality and correct weight. When a regiment 
is ordered into active service the quartermaster, when- 
ever it is necessary, will secure proper transportation 
for the men and baggage. If the regiment should be on 
the march the quartermaster should precede it at such 
a distance as may seem to be proper, for the purpose 
of selecting suitable grounds for regiment in which to go 
into camp. 

The quartermaster should, in person, superintend the 
loading of the regimental baggage in trains or in wagons 
and report the proper execution of this duty to the com- 
manding officer. On the march, the quartermaster 
should see that a sufficient detail of men is made for the 
purpose of unloading the baggage, when necessary. If 
the transportation is by means of wagons, he will direct 
them to be parked, and then he will turn them over to 
the officer on duty, who will post the necessary senti- 
nels over them. 

A quartermaster lays out the grounds for encamp- 



60 

ments, arranges the lines and selects the position in the 
camp of each company. The quartermaster will be 
careful to issue no article from the regimental stores 
without the commanding officer's orders. He should 
always have his books in good condition, in order that 
they may be inspected by any officer having authority 
to do so. 

THE SUKGEON. 

The surgeon is nominated by the colonel of the regi- 
ment, and when there is a surgeon-general, the nomi- 
nation is sent to him for approval ; when the nomina- 
tion is approved it goes to the governor through the 
usual channel, who issues the commission. The regimen- 
tal surgeon ranks as major in most states, and when 
there is an assistant, the latter ranks as captain. 

A surgeon having provided himself with the neces- 
sary instruments, hospital stores and supplies, should 
b)ear in mind that his proper function is to prevent sick- 
ness, the most important part of his duty being the 
supervision of the hygiene of the post or command to 
which he is attached, and the recommendation of such 
measures as he may deem necessary to diminish or pre- 
vent disease among the troops. To this end it should 
be remembered that the province of military hygiene be- 
gins in the recruiting office. An army, whether of regu- 
lars or militia, should be made up of able-bodied men, 
and, in order to secure efficiency, every recruit should be 
examined with rigid exactness by a medical officer. In 
passing a recruit for the regular service the medical 
officer examines him, to see that he has free use of all his 



61 

limbs ; that his chest is ample ; that his hearing, vision, 
and speech are perfect ; that he has no tumors or ulcer- 
ated or extensively cicatrised legs ; no rupture nor 
chronic cutaneous affection ; that he has not received 
any contusion or wound of the head that may impair 
his faculties ; that he is not a drunkard ; is not subject 
to convulsions, and has no infectious disorder, nor any 
other that may unfit him for duty. In this matter, how- 
ever, a great deal must necessarily be left with the ex- 
aminer, as it is impossible to frame a rule so definite as 
to dispense with the exercise of discretion and experi- 
ence. A medical officer, while he cannot and should not 
exercise command, has, nevertheless, an advisory con- 
trol of the men as to their physical comfort and sanitary 
surroundings. He should look after all matters pertain- 
ing to the health and cleanliness of the soldiers and 
camp, such as the character and cooking of the rations, 
the amount and quahty of the water supply, and the 
proper drainage of the camp, the clothing and habits of 
the men, and should make such oral or written sugges- 
tions to the commanding officer as he may deem proper. 
These suggestions, when practicable or desirable, are 
usually carried out. A surgeon should always be pres- 
ent whenever the men are ordered out for target prac- 
tice, and should invariably attend at all parades, and 
visit the guard-house or cells daily when there are pris- 
oners. When a board is convened to examine into the 
alleged unwholesomeness of the rations he should be 
one of the members. He should also be consulted in 
selecting the site for a camp. Attention should be paid 
to the water and wood supply, and to opportunities for 



62 

drainage. A spade sunk a foot or more will show 
whether the ground be sufficiently drained before the 
men are allowed to sleep upon it. A small trench should 
be dug around each tent, or, if this is prohibited, a rub- 
ber blanket or straw should be placed upon the ground 
before the men lie down to sleep or rest. The health of 
troops depends, in great measure, upon good air and ven- 
tilation, pure water, good, sufficient, and well cooked 
food, cleanliness, and proper clothing. When in camp 
the sides of the tent should be looped up each morning 
in dry weather, and once in five days the tents should 
be struck. Bedding and clothing should be thoroughly 
aired and sunned every day, if practicable. The men 
should not be allowed to contaminate the ground in the 
vicinity of the water supply, by pouring upon it soap- 
suds or the refuse of the kitchens. Should the water 
become impure it can be purified by boiling with char- 
coal, or, better still, if there be calcium carbonate in the 
water, by the addition of crystahzed alum in the pro-^ 
portion of six grains to the gallon. This forms calcium 
sulphate, which, with a bulky aluminium, hydrate and 
the contained impurities is precipitated. In addition to 
diseases due to a neglect of personal cleanliness, vermin 
may be brought into camp, and, in an incredibly short 
time, attack every member of a company. Lice and bed- 
bugs may be exterminated from clothing by a thorough 
fumigation with sulphur. The sink should also claim 
the medical man's attention. Earth should daily be 
thrown into the sink along with some disinfectant, as 
charcoal, copperas, chloride of lime or carbolic acid. 
Offal should not be allowed to decompose in the sun^ 



63 

but should be buried, or, better still, given away to per- 
sons who will remove it from the vicinity of the camp. 
Timely suggestions to the commanding officer regarding 
the proper amount of clothing are not inappropriate, and 
the surgeon should exert his influence to prevent the 
adoption of any dress which may predispose to catching 
cold or to sunstroke. 

In cases of illness or accident, it is the surgeon's duty 
to respond immediately on being notified, either by day 
or night, and he will report to the commanding officer, 
as soon as possible, any particular accident which may 
have happened. In addition, a daily report of sick, ac- 
cording to form, is made to the commanding officer, at 
such hour as he may designate. The management of 
the sick is left entirely with the surgeon ; he alone de- 
cides who are sick ; who, for that cause, shall be excused 
from duty ; who shall enter the hospital ; prescribes their 
treatment, and makes the necessary regulations for the 
government of the sick in hospitals. These duties per- 
tain exclusively to the medical officer, and are never in- 
terfered with, in camp, garrison, or on the march. Not- 
withstanding these duties are under the surgeon's imme- 
diate control, he can do but little without the aid and 
support of his commander, with whom he should not 
only cultivate the relations which mark the intercourse 
of gentlemen, but that cordial understanding which has 
for its object mutual effort for the promotion of health 
and efficiency. 



64 



REGIMENTAL FIELD OFFICERS. 



THE COLONEL. 

It is the custom in all the states for the commissioned 
officers of companies to select the colonel. It is difficulty 
in the scope of this article, to lay out in detail all the 
duties that devolve upon the commanding officer of the 
regiment. On the colonel rests the responsibility for 
the discipline and instruction of his command, upon 
which depends its usefulness on the field and the well- 
being alike of the officers and men. The character and 
discipHne of the organization depend almost entirely upon 
the miUtary administrative and executive ability of its 
commanding officer. Every colonel should be capable 
of commanding and drilling his regiment, and should 
perfectly understand the best methods of instruction and 
the maintenance of discipline, and no one, unless he is 
qualified, or has the industry and ability to qualify him- 
seK for the faithful performance of his duty, should ever 
be selected for such a position. It is his duty to see 
that everything necessary for the maintenance of order 
and discipline is enforced, and that his regiment is prop- 
erly instructed and exercised. He alone orders the 
necessary drills and parades. He should see that the 
field officers under him are so instructed that they can 
take command of the regiment, give the orders and 
properly execute the manoeuvers. 

There are two varieties of duties involved in a regi- 



65 

mental command ; they are administrative and execu- 
tive. A regimental commander should be especially 
familiar with the general duties of the officers under 
him, for, if he is not, he cannot properly direct their 
faithful performance. In all the states the colonels of 
regiments are commissioned by the governor, upon 
proper proof being made of their election and the qual- 
ifications of the persons chosen. 

The law in each state is specific as to the methods of 
recruiting and organizing regiments. It is impossible to 
determine in which state the system is best, though that 
in vogue in New York has been very generally approved. 

It is no easy work to raise, equip, and drill a regiment,, 
even when the commanding officer has had practical 
experience ; but when he comes into the command from 
civil pursuits, to conduct and govern the organization 
of a regiment requires the greatest judgment and tact^ 
and it frequently happens that those who possess the 
popularity and the means to raise a regiment under the 
system in existence in most of the states are unfit ta 
command it. As soon as a company is organized and 
mustered into the service the colonel should give orders 
for its instruction to begin immediately, and, whenever a. 
sufficient number of men shall have been enrolled to 
form a company the captain and Ueutenants should be 
chosen. Governors should issue commissions to the 
officers elected as soon thereafter as possible, in order 
that the instruction of the new regiment in routine and 
tactics may commence. Regimental orders should be 
pubhshed, naming the time for drills, and, in a new 
regiment, it is necessary for the commander to explain 



66 

the reason and object of the various duties required of 
the officers and men. 

The failure to enforce obedience to orders is fatal to 
all discipUne, for it induces neglect on the part of officers 
in the discharge of their duty. 

One of the leading duties of the colonel is to properly 
exercise his prerogative of commander. He should re- 
quii'e all his officers to be in attendance at the specified 
times for drill and other duty, and see that his orders 
are obeyed. He may not need them all at the same 
time, but they should not be excused, unless he is satis- 
fied that their attendance is unnecessary. Of course 
some modifications of this rule may be permitted 
in the exercise of his functions by the commanding 
officer, and this should be regulated by the length of 
time the subordinate officers have been in the service, 
their proficiency in drill, and knowledge of their duties. 
Where the regiment is well drilled the exercises need 
not be so frequent nor so rigid, but it is a very good rule 
to adhere to the strict observance of drill and the rou- 
tine of the regiment in camp. Correct knowledge of 
and familiarity with tactics can only be acquired by 
troops through the careful theoretical instructions of 
officers and frequent practical exercises of the men. 
As has been stated in this work, the practical exercises 
are carried out by dividing companies into squads, who 
are drilled by the non-commissioned officers. When they 
seem to be sufficiently instructed they should be formed 
into platoons and drilled by their captain or heuten- 
ants until they understand the school of the company. 
In turn, the company should be exercised in the drill of 



67 

the battalion by the commanding and field officers until 
all become thoroughly proficient in it. The greatest 
difficulty which the commanding officer of the national 
guard has to meet, is in the feeling that he must not be 
too rigid in the enforcement of his commands with the 
officers who have selected him. They are his friends, 
and he feels that they have some claims upon him, and 
most commanding officers are apt to err on the side of 
leniency. It is difficult to suggest any remedy for this 
so long as the present method of choosing officers by 
popular election prevails, and this system seems to be 
absolutely necessary in militia organizations. Offi- 
cers and men should understand that courtesy is not 
incompatible with the enforcement of the strictest disci- 
phne, and they should also feel that the commanding 
officer must have the cordial co-operation of both the 
officers and men under him to successfully maintain the 
proper discipline of the regiment, for the commanding 
officer is directly responsible to his superiors for every- 
thing that transpires in his command. The detail is 
made very much easier by requiring every officer to 
understand and do his particular duty. When officers 
tnow^ their duty, and do it, the men usually do theirs. 
It is noticeable, that when an officer is relieved from 
responsibility in regard to his command, much of his 
interest in the proper execution of his orders is lost, 
and neglect is very apt to follow. Company command- 
ers should be held to a strict responsibiHty for the 
discipline and deportment of their commands, and, there- 
fore, they ought to have complete and exclusive control 
of the internal economy of the companj^ The colonel 
4 



68 

should never make corrections or changes, except 
through the proper military channels ; particularly 
should he see that all orders and instructions are ac- 
cording to the forms prescribed by regulations. 

The morale of a command is maintained by rigid at- 
tention on the part of the colonel to all his duties, rather 
than by special attention to any particular thing. 

Great judgment should be exercised in punishing 
offenses, and the invariable rule should be to punish the 
offender of most consequence first. But there must be 
no feeling of personal irritation manifested, and it ought 
to be administered with strict regard for justice and 
right and a proper appreciation of the merits of each 
case as it arises. 

Supplying the regiment with what properly belongs 
to it requires a knowledge of and familiarity with 
the duties of the quartermaster, the commissary and 
the paymaster, and without these the colonel cannot 
properly direct his subordinates in the performance 
of their duties. The regimental quartermaster is the 
officer through whom uniforms are obtained ; he also 
furnishes transportation when required. The colonel 
directs what he desires to be done, giving his order in 
writing, and approves the proper requisition when it is 
made. Therefore, it is necessary that the colonel should 
understand the relative responsibility between himself 
and his quartermaster, as the latter is entirely respon- 
sible for the property in his charge, except so far as it 
may be affected by the order of the commanding officer 
of the regiment. The colonel should see that company 
commanders send in their requisitions for uniforms. 



69 

stating in specific terms how many are wanted by the 
company. He should see that the requisition is ex- 
amined by the quartermaster, and, if it is wrong in any 
way, he should have it returned to the company com- 
mander for correction. When the company requisitions 
are consolidated in the regimental requisition, the 
colonel should have sufficient familiarity with the 
matter to know when an error has been made, and be 
able to correct it. This knowledge is most valuable, 
and sometimes will prevent the colonel from making 
himself responsible for supplies which are unnecessary. 
The colonel is always held responsible for the correct- 
ness of the vouchers and abstracts which he signs, hence 
the need of sufficient knowledge to discover any error 
in them, and be able to rectify it. While proper super- 
vision of these things is necessary, the colonel should 
be equally careful about useless interference with the 
duties of the quartermaster. The person he selects to 
be quartermaster should have sufficient ability and 
technical knowledge to perform his duties accurately, 
and not require supervision at every step he takes. The 
colonel should have confidence in him, and feel that all 
he needs to do is to give the quartermaster his orders 
and leave the details of their execution to his own judg- 
ment. 

Particular attention should be given by the command- 
ing officer to the accurate preparation of muster rolls,, 
though, when the company officers know their business, 
the papers will be properly prepared, and will require 
nothing but his general supervision. In some states it is 
the duty of the colonel to act as inspecting and mustering 



70 

officer of his regiment in the comparison and verification 
of the papers. The colonel should see that the records 
and correspondence of his command are properly kept 
up, and to that end must be able to give all necessary 
instructions to his adjutant. He directs the publication 
of the general or special orders to his command, and 
should see that all official communications to the officers 
of the command are properly written and signed by the 
adjutant, and duly forwarded by him. The colonel 
himself signs all communications to his superior officers. 
The colonel is responsible for the manner in which his 
adjutant does his routine and office duty, and every- 
thing else necessary to the well being and good manage- 
ment of the regiment. The colonel should require the 
adjutant to know the actual strength of the command 
at all times, or else, if his command should happen to 
be needed for duty, he may find a discrepancy between 
the number of men reported fit for duty and the men 
who are actually serviceable. The colonel should be 
able to anticipate all the requirements of the regiment, 
and ready to satisfy them as far as possible. 

In some states there is no regimental ordnance officer 
provided by law, and the colonel himself obtains liis 
ordnance supplies from the proper officer for distribu- 
tion. This is one of the greatest responsibihties devolv- 
ing upon him, and requires careful attention, for the 
commanding officer is pecuniarily Hable for losses, dam- 
age or waste of arms and ammunition. It is well to de- 
tail a sergeant, to be known as ordnance sergeant, whose 
duty it shall be to look after the arms and ammunition 
of the men. The ordnance sergeant should keep his 



71 

commanding officer constantly informed as to the amount 
of ordnance on hand and its condition, what amount 
has been issued, what requisitions need to be made to 
meet the wants of the command. It will be well for the 
colonel to keep as httle ammunition on hand as possible, 
and, at least once a month, he should order the company 
commanders to turn in such arms and ammunition as 
they do not require, well packed and accompanied by an 
invoice. When a gun is lost he should see that proper 
proof is made of the causes of the loss, otherwise pay- 
ment will be required. Captains themselves will gen- 
erally be able to decide whether the loss ought to be 
charged to the men or not. The colonel will have his 
ordnance returns regularly made up and forwarded. He 
should also make frequent inspections of his command, 
for this is the best method of keeping it in order. He 
should have a thorough knowledge of the details of in- 
spection, and take care that it is thorough, for if the men 
understand that the commanding officer will notice their 
carelessness and neglect, they will be more apt to avoid 
these faults, and whenever they learn that efl&cient dis- 
cipline is appreciated and understood, they will take care 
that they are maintained. While it is essential that 
these inspections should be made, they should not be 
made with the intention of finding fault, and the subal- 
tern, to whose command the colonel is giving special at- 
tention, should be treated w^ith the fullest consideration. 
The responsible officer should attend company inspec- 
tions and explain anything which is not understood by 
the commanding officer, and he should not feel that there 
is any attempt made to find fault with him, and the 



72 

colonel should conduct the inspection in such a manner 
as to show his subordinates that he has the confidence 
of his superior. 

The colonel ought to have a general knowledge of the 
duties of every officer in his regiment, in order that he 
may be able to rectify any errors and be able to give 
the instruction necessary to avoid them in future. Be- 
sides this, he should have a special knowledge of his own 
duties. 

In the matter of recruiting his regiment the colonel 
should take such measures as are necessary and, in his 
judgment, will secure the number of men his regiment re- 
quires, always having due regard to the local law regula- 
ting this matter. A great deal depends upon the activity 
of the recruiting officer, and it is impossible to lay down 
any s^t.ecific rules upon this subject. 

As has been said, the colonel should know what the 
duty of all his subordinates is, and see and direct its 
performance, that the machinery of the regiment may 
work smoothly. He should know what each officer's 
capacity is, how the necessary duty should be done, and 
when it has been done well. To organize, drill, and 
maintain a regiment is, as we have already said, no easy 
task ; such a work, hoAvever, can be successfully accom- 
plished by any man who has average ability and a fond- 
ness for his undertaking. The colonel should have such 
an influence over his command as will bring to him 
the full confidence of officers and men. There should 
be that esprit du corj)s in the command which is abso- 
lutely necessary to foster among the men, and that 
pride, without which there can be no efficiency nor use- 



73 

fulness. Men are yery quick to see the weakness, and 
appreciate moral strength of officers, and their judgment 
is rarely incorrect. To command well is a rare talent ; 
it is a thing which cannot be acquired by instruction, 
and yet, without instruction, it is impossible. No man 
has such a genius that he can dispense with the practi- 
cal knowledge necessary for success in whatever he may 
undertake. The colonel should discourage his officers 
in pushing their own claims for advancement, unless 
they have the voluntary endorsement of their superiors. 
The officer who is promoted because of his ability to 
control a caucus or manage an election, will have very 
little ground to stand upon when his military knowledge 
and quaUfications are tested. Every officer and man in 
the command should feel that he is responsible, to the 
extent of his own influence and conduct, for the well- 
being of the command to which he belongs, and the en- 
forcement of order to the limit of his authority, and this 
f eeUng of responsibility should govern every grade in its 
respective duties. The officer who may be placed in 
temporary command should never change nor alter, in any 
way, the standing orders of the regimental commander 
without authority from his immediate superior officer. 
An officer who succeeds to the command of a regiment, 
or who relieves another, no matter what his rank, stands 
in precisely the same attitude as the colonel in regard to 
his duties, and he should understand all the orders and 
instructions in force at the time he takes command, and 
their full nature and import. Finally, in case of active 
service, the commanding officer should be certain of the 



74 

temper and faithfulness of his men, and they should 
have absolute confidence in him. 

THE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL. 

In the regulations of the army there are no duties es- 
pecially assigned to this officer, therefore, all that can be 
said will be to lay down his general duties according to 
the customs of the service. The lieutenant-colonel 
assists the colonel in the general management of the 
regiment ; by this we mean that he is expected to share^ 
to some extent, the responsibility and power of his super- 
ior officer, and, in the absence of the colonel, to assume 
all responsibility for the regiment. The lieutenant-col- 
onel performs such duties as are assigned to him by his 
commanding officer. These are generally duties that 
might possibly belong to the colonel, but, for any reason, 
are assigned by him to his immediate subordinate. The 
dress, discipline, and conduct of the officers of the regi- 
ment should be under the especial supervision of the 
lieutenant-colonel, and he should charge himself with 
the duty of seeing that everything pertaining to these 
matters is in accordance with the regulations. He should 
always be on parade, and at all times have special re- 
gard to the correct instruction of the men by the com- 
pany officers. The lieutenant-colonel is responsible to 
his superior officer generally for the recruits. It is his 
duty to see that they are properly drilled and under- 
stand enough of the routine duty of the regiment to be 
able to do ordinary duty before they are formally 
assigned to companies. If, when officers are on duty, 
the lieutenant-colonel should observe any carelessness,, 



75 

mistakes, or negligence in the manner of the perform- 
ance, he will immediately call the attention of the colonel 
to the matter, and he should always support his super- 
ior officer in the exercise of his proper authority, and 
neither must ever permit the slightest disobedience of 
orders, either by officer or soldier. 

In the manual of arms and in tactics, the lieutenant- 
colonel ought to be especially proficient. He should 
be able to explain any point of tactics, or correct any 
deviation from the methods of instruction in tactics and 
evolutions as laid down in the regulations. 

The lieutenant-colonel may have four special duties. 
He may be field officer of the day, be assigned to the 
command of a detachment consisting of four companies^ 
or he may be called upon to serve upon a field officer's 
court-martial. Generally, he may be assigned to any 
duty usually done by the colonel, but which can as well 
be done by an officer just beneath him in rank. The 
most important duty that can be required of the lieu- 
tenant-colonel is to take command of the regiment in 
the absence of his chief. In this case the ordinary 
duties of the colonel are those required of the lieu- 
tenant-colonel, and he should understand how to give 
orders and see that they are properly executed. It will 
be well for the lieutenant-colonel to attend guard- 
mounting and regimental court-martials, and such like 
duties as pertain to his command, and to observe par- 
ticularly whether or not these duties are performed in a 
correct and soldier-like way. The lieutenant-colonel 
ought particularly to understand the details and routine 
of regimental work, and be able to give instruction or 
4^ 



76 

administer reprimands whenever they seem to be re- 
quired. 

The heutenant-colonel should have at hand all the in- 
formation concerning the regiment that the colonel may 
be in need of, and he ought to be able to take com- 
mand at any time, without deranging the machinery or 
lowering the good tone of the corps. 

THE MAJOR. 

The major stands in the same relation to the regiment 
that the second lieutenant does to the company. His 
duties are very similar to those of the lieutenant- 
colonel. As he is the second assistant to the colonel 
very httle responsibility attaches to the office of major, 
except when he is in command of a detachment, and 
then he is responsible precisely as a commanding officer 
should be. A major's command consists of two com- 
panies, although he may command three. When the 
regiment is on parade the major assists in directing the 
alignments and movements, but he has no command, ex- 
cept when his superior officers are absent. In the regular 
army, when an officer dies, the articles of war require 
that the major shall secure the effects of the deceased 
and make an inventory of them, which is to be sent to 
the war office. It is often necessary under this rule, 
(particularly when the civil authorities neglect to ap- 
point an administrator,) for the major to be appointed 
to this position, in order that he may settle the estate 
of the deceased officer according to law. The major 
may also be detailed by the general commanding the 
brigade or division as field officer of the day. In this 



77. 

case he is expected to take charge of the grand guard ; 
and he performs the same duties for the brigade or 
division that the adjutant does for the regiment. He 
receives all his orders from the commanding general, and 
follows generally the routine of officers commanding the 
grand guard. He is not often detailed for this duty, ex- 
cept in large encampments for purposes of instruction, 
when, of course, the duties referred to ought to be a part 
of the general instruction of the field officer. As field 
officer of the day he should be present when the guard 
is mounted, and give such orders in regard to the post- 
ing of the guard as seem to be required. He also visits 
the sentinels and posts of the support and reserve of the 
grand guard, and will see that the right and left of his 
line connect with the guard in the proper manner, and 
that the system between the guards is well understood. 
In active service the field officer of the day has a very 
important position, as much responsibility rests upon 
him, and an opportunity given for the exercise of clear 
judgment in learning what is going on in his hne, and 
in transmitting the information to the brigade or division 
commander. This information he either causes to be 
telegraphed or communicated by some system of signals, 
or else by relays of orderlies. It is the duty of the 
major, as field officer of the day, to transmit all neces- 
sary orders to the regimental officers of the day who 
are under his supervision. The major can also be de- 
tailed as a member of the field officers' court-martial. 
By field officers' court-martial is meant a court which 
has jurisdiction over offenses punishable by regimental 
or garrison court-martials. The report of the proceed- 



78 

ings of such a court is made and submitted to the 
brigade commander, who can either approve or dis- 
approve. In the absence of the brigade commander the 
power to approve or disapprove belongs to the com- 
manding officer of the post. 

The major should be generally familiar with the duties 
of the officers in the grades under him. With the 
lieutenant-colonel he should be the assistant of the 
commanding officer of the regiment, and, under him^ 
should exercise careful and vigilant supervision over the 
command. Of course, in the absence of the colonel and 
the lieutenant-colonel, the major becomes the command- 
ing officer of the regiment, and then all the responsibihty 
of a commanding officer attaches to him. The major 
should be well versed in tactics and the details of dis- 
cipline, that he may be able to specially advise and in- 
struct the young officers who belong to his wing of the 
battalion and are under his charge. The major has 
also general authority in matters of drill and interior 
economy, but he should be careful not to inaugurate 
any system which is not thoroughly in accordance with 
that of the commanding officer of the regiment. He 
should not permit the younger officers of his wing to be 
careless about attendance at drill and parade, and he 
should require of them a prompt execution of orders 
and a correct and careful performance of their special 
duties. Of course he will report all irregularities to his 
commanding officers, which, in his judgment, are detri- 
mental to the morale and injurious to the discipline of 
the regiment. 



PART II. 

THE GENERAL STAFF. 



81 



THE GEXEEAL STAFF. 



The staff of the governor of a state generally con- 
sists of the following officers, who are named in their 
order of precedence : The adjutant-general, inspec- 
tor-general, quartermaster-general, paymaster-general, 
judge-advocate general, surgeon-general, an ordnance 
officer with the rank of colonel or lieutenant-colonel, 
and an engineer officer. 

The well-being and efficiency of the militia organiza- 
tion must depend, in a great degree, upon the thorough 
arrangement of the various departments of the staff. 
The importance of a trained staff can hardly be overes- 
timated. The work of each of the staff departments is a 
specialty, and, to perform it requires practical knowledge 
of business methods and of minute details, which cannot 
be acquired without study and experience. And, in this 
connection, it seems to the writer that an interchangea- 
ble relation between the line and the staff is unsound in 
theory and impracticable. Under the interchangeable 
rule, as soon as an officer becomes competent to perform 
duty he would be replaced by a new and inexperienced 
man. How efficiency is to be secured in this way it is 
impossible to see. Therefore, the effect of interchange- 
abiUty between the line and the staff must be extremely 
injurious. An effective staff, of course, is the work of 
years. It cannot be created in an emergency and sent 
to the field ready for work. Without thoroughly organ- 
ized staff and supply departments, trained and made 



82 

efficient by experience, no army or military organization 
can be successful. 

The officers of tlie adjutant-general's department are 
the adjutant-general, with such rank as the legislature 
may assign to him, and as many assistant adjutants- 
general as the service may require. 

The officers of the inspector-general's department are 
the inspector-general, with the rank of a brigadier-gen- 
eral, and division and brigade inspectors. To the in- 
spector-general, with such assistant inspectors-general 
as are necessary, is assigned the duty of inspecting, at 
certain times, the militia and anything pertaining to the 
mihtary establishment of the state. Division and brig- 
ade inspectors, in addition to other duties, should be 
specially charged with the instruction of regimental offi- 
cers. 

The quartermaster's department consists of a quar- 
termaster-general, with the rank of brigadier-general,, 
with as many assistant quartermasters-general as are 
necessary. 

The officers of the pay department are the paymaster- 
general, with such a number of deputies as may be re- 
quired. To this department belong all the duties of the 
pay department when it is in the service of the state. 

The judge advocate-general, as chief of his depart- 
ment, is charged with the general supervision and man- 
agement of everything relating to the administration of 
justice among the military forces of the state. 

The surgeon-general has, in most states, the rank of 
brigadier-general, and he has special charge over sur- 
geons attached to divisions, brigades, and regiments. In 



83 

some states there is an ordnance officer with the rank of 
colonel and chief of ordnance. He presides over the de- 
partment called the ordnance department. He is the 
purchasing and issuing officer, and is responsible, and 
has charge of such properties and supplies as, under 
the regulations of the United States, belong to the 
ordnance department. He gives proper security for the 
faithful performance of the duties of his office, and to 
him the ordnance officers of the division and brigade are 
required to report. 

The engineer officer has the same duties as belong to 
the officer of similar rank in the regular army. In the 
mihtia there is very Uttle use for such an appointment ; 
still, in some states, it is customary. 

The commissions of all officers of the general staff of 
the state expire with the term of the governor who ap- 
pointed them. They are nominated by the governor 
and confirmed by the senate. The resolution of the 
senate, confirming any nomination of the governor for a 
mihtary office, is certified to by the president of the 
senate and its clerk. A copy of this certificate is 
transmitted to the adjutant-general of the state, who 
thereupon issues the commission. 

THE ADJUTANT-GENEEAL. 

The bureau duties of adjutant-generals and assist- 
ants are publishing orders in writing, making up writ- 
ten instructions and transmitting them, reception of re- 
ports and returns, disposing of them, forming tables 
showing the state and position of corps, regulating de- 
tails of service, corresponding with the administrative 



84 

departments relative to the wants of troops, the meth- 
odical arrangement and care of the records and papers 
of the office. 

The adjutant-general is the senior officer on the staff 
of the commander in chief. Everything relating to the 
effective condition of the miUtia of the state, from its 
formation to its instruction and discipline, and all the re- 
turns in relation thereto, belong to the adjutant-gen- 
eral's department. He is the medium through whom 
all brigade, division and regimental commanders, and all 
other officers, communicate with the commander in chief 
and receive his orders. 

Instructions pertaining to the organization and disci- 
pline of the national guard of a state are published by 
the adjutant-general, in accordance with the directions 
received from the governor and commander in chief. In 
all the states it is the duty of the adjutant-general, early 
in each year, to report to the governor, in writing, the con- 
dition of the national guard, its strength in officers and 
men, the number of divisions, brigades, regiments and 
companies and their strength, and he will accompany 
this report with such recommendations as may be re- 
quired by the exigencies of the service, and are likely to 
add to the efficiency of the national guard. Under the 
law organizing the militia of the United States, the ad- 
jutant-general also makes a report to the President of 
the United States. This embodies information regard- 
ing the militia in active service and the unenrolled mil- 
itia, together with the condition of arms and equipments. 
This report should be made on or before the first Mon- 
day in January of each year. The adjutant-general re- 



85 

ceives and takes charge of all securities given for arms 
and munitions of war and other property, when issued 
by the state. He receives all the reports of the staff 
officers, and all returns and reports of inspecting officers, 
returns of elections, and of examining boards and ap- 
pointments. Through him are transmitted the proceed- 
ings and reports of courts-martial, mihtary boards, and 
courts of inquiry, applications for permission to organ- 
ize commands and consolidate or disband commands, 
and all applications, communications, and other writings 
and papers that are to be sent to the commander-in- 
chief or returned to the general headquarters for pre- 
servation. From the adjutant-general officers of the 
line will receive proper blanks for their use. The adju- 
tant-general prepares and transmits to them the commis- 
sions of all line, field, staff and general officers when 
they are issued by the governor, and he causes these 
commissions to be duly registered in a book called the 
roster of the militia, in which he also notes the changes 
which may from time to time occur, from any cause. 

It is the duty of the adjutant-general of the state to 
keep in his department a careful record of all the ord- 
nance, arms, accoutrements and munitions of war issued 
under the orders of the commander in chief of the mil- 
itia. He should specify, in all cases, the date and num- 
ber of the order under which any of the above articles 
were issued, the kind of arms and their number, the 
names of the officers to whom they were issued, the 
number of the regiment, brigade, or division, and the letter 
of the company, giving, at the same time, the date of the 
bond given as security to the government, with the names 



of the bondsmen. In most states the adjutant-general is 
required to see that the securities prove the value of 
their bonds before he issues any public property upon 
them. It is the duty of the adjutant-general of the 
state to issue, at the specified times, the orders authoriz- 
ing the return of ordnance or any military supplies in 
the hands of officers, and he shall do this whenever, in 
his judgment, such property is likely to be lost or injured^ 
or the bondsmen have ceased to be responsible for its 
security. The adjutant-general should require from the 
chief of every department two property certificates, care- 
fully authenticated, from any officer of a department 
having charge of public property who may be relieved 
from duty or who has resigned. These certificates shall 
be received as proof of the proper condition of the pub- 
lic property in the hands of the officer to whom it is given. 
One of these receipts will be sent to the department to 
w^hich the officer belonged, and the other is retained by 
him as an evidence of the correct condition of his ac- 
counts with the state. The adjutant-general receives the 
resignations of all commissioned officers, which should 
be transmitted to him through the proper intermediate 
commanders, and no officer shall be considered as out of 
the service because of the tender of his resignation, un- 
til the proper action shall have been taken by the com- 
mander in chief. Within thirty days after the date of 
the order of acceptance has been received the resigna- 
tion takes effect. Commanding officers of brigades, di- 
visions, regiments, or other organizations, should immedi- 
ately report all vacancies occurring among the commis- 
sioned officers of their commands to the adjutant-gen- 



87 

eral. The duties of the adjutant-general of a state re- 
quire that he haye an extended knowledge of all arms 
of the service and of the military details of every office 
within the gift of the government, as the information he 
is supposed to have must be positive and accurate touch- 
ing the practical working of every part of the militia 
system. The authority of the adjutant-general is very 
great. He can investigate and inquire into the condi- 
tion, management and discipline of every command in 
the state without any special order from the governor 
for so doing. It is well for the adjutant-general to knov/ 
that in the exercise of his proper functions he will be 
sustained by the governor. It is necessary, therefore, for 
the governor to have the fullest confidence in this offi- 
cer. The governor should especially require that every 
matter of detail touching the militia of the state, and 
all orders affecting it, should be executed under the di- 
rection of the adjutant-general. In no case should the 
governor allow reports and communications from officers 
of the militia, however high in rank, to come to him, ex- 
cept through the proper channel. The adjutant-general 
should be especially familiar mth all papers, returns 
and reports that belong to his department. He should 
understand their form, meaning, use, and destination ; 
and, as they all have to pass through his hands, they 
ought to be fully understood by him. He should care- 
fully keep files of all general and special orders pertain- 
ing to changes in staff officers and relating to new or- 
ganizations, and of letters, reports, requisitions, esti- 
mates, proceedings of courts-martial and courts of in- 
quiry, commissions ordered, boards of examination or 



officers elected to positions in the regiment, and note 
their effect, and all kinds of records, minutes, or papers 
necessary in the administration of the militia of the 
state. The governor should require a careful perform- 
ance of duty on the part of the adjutant-general, and 
should hold him to a rigid responsibility for the manage- 
ment of his office and the proper execution of all orders 
delivered to him. 

ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENEEALS. 

The assistant adjutant-generals of brigades and divi- 
sions have duties similar in their general tenor to those 
of the adjutant-general of the state. They are usually 
chief of staff to the general officer with whom they serve. 
It is their duty to form the command of their general in 
line, to serve all orders and keep in proper condition 
the books of the command, to inspect and form the 
guard, carefully prepare and keep ready for use the 
necessary roster, and, in effect, regulate all duties per- 
taining to their special department, under the general 
direction of the general officer on whose staff' they serve. 
The parade is their special charge, together with the 
posting of markers and making alignments in the evolu- 
tions. In this duty they are assisted by the other offi- 
cers of the staff. The assistant adjutant-general should 
be familiar with the proper manner of making up returns, 
in order that he may correct errors and give the neces- 
sary orders for facilitating a good administration of the 
affairs of the command. The adjutant-general, particu- 
larly in the field, should have a thorough knowledge of 
manoeuvering and the handling of troops. He should 



89 

know enough, to be able to represent the general in the 
field, and have the confidence of his chief to such an ex- 
tent as to know all his plans. He should be able to de- 
liver orders, comprehend the meaning of each, and judge 
(whenever the necessity may occur,) of the proper modi- 
fication of an order, sometimes made necessary by a 
change in the circumstances under which it was issued, 
for it frequently happens that the officer has no time to 
return to his chief for instructions. Hence the necessity 
of ability to determine what change may be made in the 
order when the circumstances making its issue necessary 
have changed or ceased to exist. The adjutant-general, 
as chief of staff, should be the cliief advisor of the gene- 
ral officer with whom he is serving. He ought to know^ 
and at all times be ready to furnish his chief with all 
the details of the command, the names of the command- 
ing officers, the regiments, the brigades, their character, 
military experience, ability and conditions ; and he should 
know just what dependence can be placed on each sub- 
ordinate officer in the command. The assistant adjutant- 
general should endeavor to relieve his general as much 
as possible of the labors of mere detail and routine. 
He should be a man with whom his general may entrust 
a secret and feel that it will be kept. 

Yery few of the duties of the assistant adjutant-gene- 
ral are positively fixed by law. His responsibility and 
duties grow out of the magnitude and character of the 
command to which he belongs. As chief of staff the 
assistant adjutant-general ought to have the full confi- 
dence of his commanding officer, as he attends to the 
execution of all orders which may be issued by his 



90 

general. He ought to be a man of great ability, and 
should always be sustained by his commanding officer 
in the execution of his duties, and particularly author- 
ized to correct any defect in the discipline of the com- 
mand in common with the inspector-general. The as- 
sistant adjutant-general should be sufficiently familiar 
with the details of the service to judge of the efficiency 
of the other staff officers, and of the manner in which 
they perform their duty. 

The relation which exists between the adjutant-gener- 
al and his commander should be that of perfect obedi- 
ence on the part of the one and perfect confidence on 
the part of the other. In all matters of a military char- 
£icter the cliief of staff and the commanding general 
should be in harmony. No officer should hold the posi- 
tion of chief of staff* who, after haying carefully consid- 
ered the matter, finds that his instructions are opposed 
to his judgment. 

Assistant adjutant-generals should divide all papers 
received by them into three classes. The first class 
should include papers which are to be permanently re- 
tained at brigade or division headquarters. The second 
class includes the papers which should be preserved but 
which may be sent to general headquarters, at the office 
of the adjutant-general of the state ; and the third class 
includes those of such a nature that they may be de- 
stroyed without detriment. The management of official 
correspondence is a very difficult thing, but it seems to 
us that might be much simpUfied. The adjutant-gene- 
ral should endeavor to put all orders in the plainest and 
simplest terms, and the smaller the amount of writing 



91 

the better. Young officers appointed to the position 
under discussion will remember that they themselves 
have no power except from their commanding officer ; 
they are merely his agents. Especially should they be 
careful in assuming authority simply to confer favors. 
It is, perhaps, unnecessary to remark that the staff offi- 
cer should always understand that he is bound by his 
position to treat every officer with whom he comes in 
contact with that courtesy which is due from one gen- 
tleman to another. Especially should adjutant-generals 
be reticent if they have the full confidence of their 
chiefs, as they ought, for they will naturally be possessed 
of much important information. It is very hard for the 
staff officer to decline to tell his friends what is going on, 
and it is well for the latter to ask no questions touching 
coming movements and events. The assistant adjutant- 
general will remember, that all official letters and reports 
which are to be transmitted to the commander in chief 
or superior officers should be signed by the general offi- 
cer making them, with his rank and command affixed. 
As general officers are responsible for the correctness of 
the documents forwarded by them, they should care- 
fully read all special matters of communication they are 
required to sign, adding such observations, based on their 
own knowledge, as may enable the officer to whom the 
communication is to be transmitted to better understand 
it. In correspondence between one general officer and 
another, or between the commanding officer and a chief 
of department, the letter should be signed by the super- 
ior officer himself and not by the staff officer. The 
assistant adjutant-generals of brigades or divisions will 
5 



92 

remember that the officer next in rank and temporarily 
in command may open any official letters which arrive, 
and act upon them whenever the regular commanding 
officer happens to be absent. In adda essing official let- 
ters the rank and official position of the person ad- 
dressed should always be included in the address. 
Assistant adjutant-generals will remember that access to 
official records shall only be allowed to those who are 
entrusted with the duties pertaining to the department or 
office to which they belong. No official record shall be 
made or communicated to officers unconnected with 
headquarters without the special permission of the offi- 
cer in command. The only possible business an officer 
can have with documents or information from the offi- 
cial records, is when it may be used by him for the fur- 
therance of the public interest in the performance of his. 
duty. Any officer who publishes official documents, or 
avails himself of them for the purpose of carrying on a 
personal controversy^, or for any private purposes un- 
connected with the service, or without due authority 
from the commanding officer, or w^ho shall, in any way,, 
injure or change an official record, is guilty of conduct 
unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and has com- 
mitted a grave breach of official trust. The assistant- 
adjutant-general sees to the publication of the general 
orders of his chief. These should only contain matters 
which it is proper for every one in the command to know. 
General Orders should be printed as soon as issued and 
forwarded without delay for distribution in the com- 
mand ; they should be printed in small type and on one 
side of the sheet only, and the wording should be as 



93 

concise as possible. The assistant adjutant-general 
should attend at the headquarters of the command 
promptly at the specified times to receive orders. He 
should see that the orders received by the adjutants of 
the several regiments and battalions are read to the 
men at the first parade thereafter. On field duty the 
assistant adjutant-general should attend at the head- 
quarters tent as soon as the camp is pitched, and all or- 
ders, save those specified above, must be signed by the 
assistant adjutant-general who issues them. 

Above all things this officer must keep his temper, 
though there will be many things to try it severely. 
As chief of staff he should be prepared to assume great 
responsibility. General officers should always support 
their chiefs of staff in the exercise of their duties, and 
promptly reprimand any officer of the brigade or divis- 
ion who fails to obey an order issued by the assistant 
adjutant-general. In time of war the assistant adjutant- 
general causes a list of all captured property, or prop- 
erty lost in action and remaining in the possession of 
the command, to be made out, and he shall take orders 
of his chief as to the disposal of this property. 

COREESPONDENCE. 

All official correspondence between the heads of the 
different departments of the staff of any command and 
its commander must pass through the adjutant-general's 
department or assistant adjutant-general's, or the adju- 
tant of the command, as the case may be. Commimica- 
tions to or from a commander and those under his com- 
mand must pass through the adjutant-general, assistant 



94 

adjutant-general, or adjutant on duty with it, excepting 
only such communications between a disbursing officer 
and the chief of his particular branch of the staff as 
relate exclusively to the ordinary routine of the business 
in their own department. All communications, whether 
from an inferior to a superior or vice versa, are, as a 
general rule, to be passed through the intermediate com- 
manders. The same rule governs in verbal applications ; 
for example, a lieutenant seeking an indulgence must 
apply through his captain, the captain through the ad- 
jutant, and so on. 

Copies of all important communications from any of 
the bureaus of the general staff to disbursing officers, 
relating to the service in a military department, shall be 
sent from the bureau to the department commander. 

Rolls and returns will be accompanied by a letter of 
transmittal enumerating them and referring to no other 
subject. 

Generally, officers who forward communications en- 
dorse on them their remarks or opinion withovit other 
letters of transmittal. 

Official letters should refer to one matter only. 

Letters on letter paper will be folded in three folds 
parallel with the writing. 

All communications on pubhc service are to be marked 
on the cover " Official Business.'' 

Officers should give special attention to the Army 
Kegulations and General Orders in regard to correspond- 
ence on official matters. All such correspondence must 
be conducted through the proper official channels, except 
in cases of pressing necessity which do not leave time for 



95 

regular communication, and then the necessity must be 
stated. All applications or correspondence, through 
whomsoever made, in violation of correct usage should 
not be responded to, and the writers may be tried for 
disobedience of established usage and rules, or recom- 
mended to the governor for dismissal. 

Any officer who shall, without proper authority, per- 
mit the publication of an official letter or report, or allow 
any copy of such document to pass into the hands of 
persons not authorized to receive it, may have charges 
preferred against him and his name should be submitted 
to the governor for dismissal. This rule applies to all 
official letters and reports written by an officer himself. 

Parcels directed to the adjutant-general of the state 
should be marked on the left hand upper corner in a 
way to indicate their contents. Packages containing 
certificates of disability, muster rolls, returns, &c., will 
all be marked in like manner. 

BOOKS TO BE KEPT AT HEADQUARTERS. 

The following rules for keeping books at general head- 
quarters, and in the adjutant-general's office, may, with 
modifications that will readily occur, be used with troops 
in the field, at the headquarters of divisions, depart- 
ments, regiments, &c. 

All official communications received will be entered in 
the book of " Letters Received," excepting only such 
letters of mere transmittal of orders, returns, certificates 
of disabihty, requisitions, &c., as need not be reserved. 
The orders, returns, certificates, requisitions, &c., will 



96 

be themselves appropriately entered in other books 
specially provided for the purpose. 

Letter paper will be folded in three equal folds, cap 
paper in four. The endorsement will give the place and 
date of letter, name and rank of writer, and a summary 
of contents ; and, if other papers accompany the 
letter, the number transmitted will also be noted on the 
back in red ink. Each enclosure will be numbered and 
bear the same office marks as the letter transmitting it. 

Every letter required to be preserved will be entered 
alphabetically and numbered, the series of numbers be- 
ginning and terminating with the year, and including all 
letters dated (whether received or not) within the year. 
Only one number will be given to each letter received 
with its enclosures, so that the sum of the numbers 
under each alphabetical entry in the book of " Letters 
Received " during any year, will show the number of 
letters received in that year. 

As a general rule, every letter will be entered in the 
name of its writer, but there are cases where it is pre- 
ferable, for convenience of reference, to enter it in the 
name of the person who forms the subject of the letter. 
Applications for the discharge of soldiers, &c., are of 
this character. Usually a single entry of each letter 
and its enclosures will suffice, but it may sometimes be 
necessary, in addition, to make entries in the names of 
one or more of the individuals to whom it relates. Such 
entries, however, will not be numbered, but merely con- 
tain the date of receipt, name of individual, place and 
date of the letter concerning him, with a reference in 
red ink to the number of that letter. 



97 

The book of " Letters Received " will contain a side 
index extending throughout, and will be divided among 
the several letters of the alphabet according to the 
probable space required for entries under each letter^ 
The book will be paged, and each page divided into 
three columns headed " When received," " Name," 
■*' Date and purport of letter," respectively. 

Each entry will be separated from the one preceding 
it by a red line ; and when two or three letters relate 
to the same subject they will either be filed together, 
or made to refer to each other by their numbers, and 
the filing or reference be noted in the book as well as 
on the letters themselves. 

Letters from staff officers, written by direction of their 
generals, will be entered in the name of the generals 
themselves ; thus, a communication from General 
E 's staff officer, would be entered in the letter R. 

Where letters are referred from the office for report, 
etc., a note of the fact must be made (in red ink) in this 
book, with a citation of the page (or number of the let- 
ter) in the "endorsement" or 'better book" where the 
reference is recorded. 

Every letter recorded in this book is numbered (in red 
ink), the numbers commencing and terminating with the 
year, and each letter is separated from the one which 
follows it by a red line. 

The address of all letters should be at the top, the 
surname being written conspicuously in the margin, fol- 
lowed by the official title (if any) and christian name, 

thus, Bvt. Maj.-Gen'l Commanding, etc.^ 

etc., etc., or Esq. 



98 

Each letter should be signed in the record book by its 
writer. 

Whenever copies of letters are furnished the names 
of the persons to whom they are sent should be noted in 
red ink in the margin, with the date when the last dif- 
fers from the date of the letter itself. In like manner, 
when a letter is addressed to one officer under cover to 
his commander, etc., this fact should be noted in red ink 
on the margin. 

The name of every person to whom a letter is addressed 
is indexed alphabetically in black ink, and the names of 
the individuals whom it principally concerns, in red ink* 
A red ink hne is drawn in the body of the letter, under 
the names so indexed, to facihtate a reference to them. 
In the margin, immediately under the name of the per- 
son to whom a letter is addressed, there are two refer- 
ences, above and below a short red line, the one above 
(in red) indicates the last preceding letter to the same 
individual, and the one below (in black) the next follow- 
ing. A detached index is used until the record book is 
full, when the names are arranged under letters as in 
city directories, and thus classified they are transferred 
to the permanent index attached to the record book. 

Every order recorded in this book will be signed by 
the staff officer whose signature was attached to the 
originals sent from the office, and each order should be 
separated from the one following by a red line. 

The modes of numbering, distribution, and general 
form of orders are usually prescribed by the regulations 
of each state. The distribution in each particular case 
should be noted with red ink in the margin, to show that 



99 

the regulations have been complied with ; and where 
orders are sent to one officer under cover to his com- 
mander, (which course ought always to be pursued) or 
furnished at a date subsequent to the issue of the orders, 
these facts should likewise be added ; where the order 
has been printed it will be sufficient to write the word 
" printed " in red ink in the margin, to indicate that the 
widest circulation has been given to it. 

Every endorsement made on letters or other commu- 
nications sent from the office will be copied in this 
book and be signed by the staff officer whose signature 
was attached to the endorsement itself. A brief descrip- 
tion of the communication sent out (the name of its 
writer, date, subject, and office marks) should precede 
the record of the endorsement, to render the latter intel- 
hgible, and where such communication has been entered 
in the books of " Letters Received," the disposition made 
of it should also be noted in that book, with a citation 
of the page where the endorsement is recorded. Should 
the communication be returned to headquarters a mem- 
orandum will be made to that effect, with the date when 
received back in all the books where the fact of the ref- 
erence from the office may have been noted. 

In the case of such papers as proceedings of general 
courts-martial, certificates of disability for the discharge 
of soldiers, requisitions for ordnance, etc., which are not 
filed at headquarters but forwarded thence for deposit 
in other offices, it will generally suffice to make a brief 
memorandum of the general in chief's action upon them, 
instead of copying the endorsements. Where the en- 

5^ 



100 

dorsement, however, settles any rule or principle, it 
ought, of course, to be copied in full. 

The name and address of every officer to whom a 
communication is referred will be written in the 
margin. 

THE INSPECTOE GENERAL. 



Brigade and Division Inspectors, 

The inspector-general is the second officer in rank on 
the governor's staff. His duties, when properly attended 
to, are very exhaustive and difficult, and his efficiency 
depends very much upon his knowledge of mihtary 
matters and the faithfulness with which he does his 
duty. The inspector-general is the officer upon whom 
the governor relies for information concerning the exact 
condition of each arm of the service represented in the 
miUtia, its efficiency, drill and general morale and needs. 

The duty of the inspector-general is not alone to per- 
form the ceremony of inspecting troops. He requires 
an intimate knowledge of the laws, customs and regula- 
tions of the service in every department. He should 
be prepared to answer all questions as to the character 
and efficiency of any part of the state force. He should 
be notified by the local brigade inspector of anything 
that may not be according to the regulations in any part 
of the state militia organization, in order that it may be 
promptly corrected. The inspector-general should, at 
least once in two years, visit every militia district in his 
state. He shall carefully inspect every branch of the 
military establishment, including armories, mihtary store- 



101 

liouses and arsenals. He shall report to the general 
headquarters the condition of the troops as to discipline 
and tactical instruction, as well as any other matters 
pertaining to the discipline and well-being of the mihtia 
of his state. It is the duty of the inspector-general to 
report upon the qualifications of persons nominated to 
the commander in chief for commissions. He should 
also see that the apphcants for the organization of com- 
panies are properly quahfied and fit to do so. In his 
annual report the inspector-general must state what 
general and field officers have been in command of en- 
campments and parades, and what improvement has 
been made by officers and men during the year, the 
manner in which the general regulations have been 
observed, and generally any information pertaining to 
the militia of the state. The inspector-general of the 
state should, m the November of each year, inspect the 
tents and camp equipage belonging to the state and 
report any deficiency therein, how much of it is damaged 
or unfit for use, or missing, or injured, or otherwise de- 
ficient in any way. Commandants of regiments, bat- 
taUons and companies should be required by the inspec- 
tor-general to report, at stated times, necessary informa- 
tion as to the number and kind of arms, equipments, 
and military property of the state issued to and in the 
possession of their commands. Upon the receipt of the 
annual report the governor may order such property as 
the inspector-general has reported unfit for use to be 
sold at public sale, upon proper notice. The sale shall 
be under the direction of the inspector-general or chief 
of ordnance, and the proceeds of such sale may be used 



102 

for the purchase of new equipments, arms, ammunition 
as the governor may direct. When the inspector visits 
the various sections of the state on duty, he will ascer- 
tain whether the troops have been properly instructed 
in tactics and field evolutions. He will require them to 
be exercised in the necessary manoeuvres as ordered by 
the regulations. He also has the right to give instruc- 
tions touching such exercises to the commanding officers 
of brigades or divisions, who, upon the receipt of these 
orders, shall cause the necessary measures to be taken 
for their execution. The inspector-general ought, at least 
once a year, to examine the books of each regiment and 
battahon, and he should especially report to the gover- 
nor whether the proceedings and orders of the regiment 
are regularly and properly entered. 

The ofiicers of the inspection department, except in 
cases where they are assigned to specific commands as 
inspectors, act under the special orders of the governor, 
and are not to be interfered with by other ofiicers, of 
whatever rank or position. Their sphere of inquiry in-^ 
eludes every branch of military affairs, and is, in specific 
cases, defined andrlimited only by the orders pertaining 
to such cases. 

For the general inspection service of the militia, in- 
spection officers|may, in some instances, be assigned to 
the headquarters^of military divisions by the inspector- 
general or assistant inspector-general. In the absence 
of such assignments the commanding generals of divis- 
ions may themselves detail ofiicers from commands for 
that duty. Officers so assigned or detailed act under 
the orders of their chiefs, in the same manner as inspect- 



103 

ors-general act under the orders of the governor of the 
state. 

The ordinary subjects of miUtary inspections are such 
as follow : 

The condition as to efficiency, discipline, supplies, etc., 
of bodies of troops ; and the resources, geographical fea- 
tures, lines of communication and supply, the military 
wants, etc., of any section of the country ; the mihtary 
status in any field of operations ; the condition and sup- 
ply of military materials of various classes ; the condi- 
tion of the administrative or disbursing departments of 
the service ; the efficiency and conduct of military 
commanders and agents ; the cause or failure of delay 
in movements or operations — of losses by accidents,, 
disasters, etc., and, in general, all matters pertaining to 
the efficiency and well-being of the military in the state, 
or having interest in a military view. 

The reports of inspectors-general to their chiefs are 
confidential, except the stated inspection reports, from 
which confidential matter, intended only for the eye of 
the commander in chief, or any other officer on whose 
staff the inspecting officer is serving, may be withdrawn 
if desired. 

Through the brigade, division and corps inspectors 
the commanding officers of those organizations see, at all 
times, the exact state and discipline of the troops, their 
preparation for the field in case they are needed, the^ 
condition of arms, equipments, etc., the character and 
quantity of the supplies of various kinds, the sufficiency 
or insufficiency of transportation, and the sanitary con- 
dition of the troops. Through these inspectors com- 



104 

manding generals are informed of insufficiencies, 
irregularities and defects, wherever they exist, know 
whether their instructions given through other depart- 
ments are carried into effect, and whether, in camp,* on 
the march, or in the field, the exact condition of affairs 
is made known at headquarters, and whether the 
standing or particular orders necessary for the public 
service are properly executed. 

The efficient discharge of the duty of inspecting 
officers requires a thorough acquaintance mth the rules 
and usages of the service, the regulations and laws for 
the government of the mihtia, the systems of instruction 
for the troops, and the general principles of the mihtary 
profession. Industrious attention must, therefore, be 
given by inspectors to the study of such matters as may 
pertain to their sphere of investigation and habits of 
study, and critical observation should be assiduously 
cultivated. 

Great care must be taken by inspecting officers that 
no injustice be done to organizations or individuals by 
reports not fully sustained by personal and thorough 
examination. 

They are to refrain from informal conversations 
regarding the subject of investigation. Expressions of 
approbation or disapprobation belong only to official 
reports, and are to be submitted to their chiefs alone. 

Inspectors will give orders only when specially author- 
ized to do so, and will then give them in the name of the 
officer authorizing them. 

Arriving at a command to be inspected the inspector 
will furnish a copy of the order directing the inspection 



105 

to tlie commanding officer, who will give as much infor- 
mation as practicable respecting the corps, and impart 
any intelligence which may aid the inspector in a 
thorough performance of his duty. 

The inspector will critically observe and report upon 
the military appearance and bearing of the troops, the 
condition of their arms and equipments, their discipline 
and instruction, their knowledge and skill in the use of 
their weapons, their dress and appointments, their pro- 
ficiency in technical instruction, the readiness with 
which they may be commanded in the different evolu- 
tions, and their preparation for the march, or for other 
service on which they may be ordered. The relative 
efficiency of different organizations will be noted, and 
the general merits of the officers, and the cause for any 
marked difference. It will be ascertained whether the 
general orders issued by the governors and from the 
headquarters of the respective brigades, divisions, and 
departments are duly promulgated, understood and 
observed ; whether mustering officers comply with the 
regulations for their guidance ; whether there be any 
officers, non-commissioned officers or privates in excess 
of the prescribed organization ; whether the books and 
records at headquarters are properly and regularly kept, 
reports, returns, etc., sent forward, &c., &c. 

They will exercise a comprehensive and general obser- 
vation over all that pertains to the economy and efficien- 
cy of the service, the condition and state of supplies of 
all kinds of arms and equipments, of the expenditure of 
public property and moneys, and the condition of the 
accounts of all disbursing officers of every branch of the 



106 

service ; of the conduct, discipline and efficiency of offi- 
cers ; and report, with strict impartiality, in regard to all 
irregularities that may be discovered. They will also, 
from time to time, make such suggestions as may appear 
to them practicable for the cure of any defect that may 
come under their observation. 

The quality, condition and quantity of clothing and 
other supplies will be noted by inspectors ; the condition 
of hospitals, whenever there are any ; the supply of medi- 
cal and hospital stores, and the care and attention be- 
stowed upon patients will be observed. It will be re- 
marked whether the troops are adapted to the particular 
service required of them ; whether they are properly 
commanded ; whether they are wholly subordinate and 
obedient ; whether cheerful and faithful service is to be 
expected of them. The inspector will report whether 
the officers of the command are properly instructed as 
to their duties in the field and in quarters, whether they 
are acquainted with the regulations and tactics ; whether 
they are zealous and intelligent in the performance of 
their duties ; whether, in their several spheres, the officer 
in command receives from them that support to which 
he is entitled ; whether any of the officers are addicted to 
intemperance ; whether the vice of gaming prevails ; 
whether the system of government of the command is uni- 
form in its practical operation, and is such as to secure 
the ends of military government in regard to the rights of 
officers, and insure the obedience of enlisted men. It 
will also be ascertained and reported if commanding 
officers understand the special orders or duties pertain- 
ing to their place, and whether they observe them. The 



107 

inspector will report whether the course pursued by the 
commanding officer, in relation to the community in 
which he may be, is in accordance with the requirements 
of his position and the orders and views of his superior 
officers. Reports on these topics will generally be con- 
fidential. 

In inspecting commands in the field, or to take the 
field, attention will be directed to the requisites of the 
troops for a successful campaign ; to such matters, for 
instance as health, armament, equipment, mobility, fight- 
ing capabilities, etc. Nice and discriminating examina- 
tions into minutiae are not called for under such circum- 
stances. In inspections of troops of the infantry the 
inspector will critically observe and report their mili- 
tary appearance and bearing, the condition of their arms 
and equipments, their instruction in the schools of the 
soldier, company, battalion and higher organizations; 
whether the troops are practiced on the march with full 
kit, how many drills weekly there are, and whether offi- 
cers attend them, naming the remiss, and how much 
time is devoted to instruction, whether drill or recita- 
tion. Particular attention will be given to the subject of 
cleanliness and proper sanitary condition of quarters, 
camps, barracks, hospitals, etc. The subject of cooking 
will also receive attention as well as the quality, condi- 
tion and quantity of the subsistence supply. The cloth- 
ing will be carefully inspected, to see that the men are 
supplied with articles of the proper and requisite charac- 
ter and quantity ; that it is of the prescribed uniform 
from which no deviations are made ; that proper care is 
taken in the preservation of clothing, and that it is adapt- 



108 

ed to service and the climate. The inspector will ob- 
serve whether non-commissioned officers perform their 
duties correctly and promptly ; whether the numbers 
actually in the ranks correspond with, the returns. He 
will ascertain whether any men are kept on the rolls 
who are not equipped as soldiers ; whether any officers 
are habitually intemperate or immoral, or have unfit 
associations ; whether any evince a want of instruction 
in the tactics or company administrative duties, or in 
the regulations pertaining to his sphere of duty ; whether 
the company and regimental books are kept in the form 
prescribed by the regulations ; whether the company 
iimd is legitimately expended and accounted for ; wheth- 
er the prescribed company and regimental and other 
returns are correctly prepared and promptly sent for- 
ward. 

In the artillery arm the instructions given regarding 
infantry will be observed, so far as appHcable, and re- 
port made on the points therein noted. The inspector 
wdll observe, in addition, whether officers are well in- 
structed in the use of the various kinds of ordnance in 
the service ; what systems of instruction are used, and 
the frequency of drills and exercises under them ; 
whether there be recitations in artillery for officers and 
non-commissioned officers, and how they are attended 
and conducted, and with what result; whether non- 
commissioned officers and men understand the use of 
their guns — are instructed as to their ranges, and are 
skilled in pointing ; whether they properly understand 
the loading of shells and the timing of fuses, and gen- 
erally all matters pertaining to the preparation and use 



109 

of ammumtion and projectiles for the service of their 
pieces ; whether ammunition in charge of the troops is 
properly cared for and is safely stowed ; and whether, if 
packed for transportation, it is properly put up. 

He will observe the character, sufficiency, quality and 
defects of guns, carriages, appliances, ammunition, pro- 
jectiles, &G., &c., and report fully thereon. In field 
artillery, after inspection of guns, ammunition, &c., in- 
specting officers will observe the condition of the horses ; 
whether there is judicious management in their use; 
whether they are well treated and properly cared for ; 
whether proper attention is paid to stable duty, and the 
required number of officers at the calls ; whether any 
diseases prevail among the horses, and whether they re- 
ceive proper veterinary treatment; whether there be 
any deficiency in the supply of forage ; whether the 
quality be good, and, if there be any cause of com- 
plaint, who is responsible. The inspector will also ex- 
amine the harness, and see whether it be complete and 
properly fitted, is well kept and is sufficient. He will 
further report if there is any unauthorized or private 
use of the artillery horses. 

In heavy artillery the inspector wdll report whether 
the guns and carriages and their appliances are in good 
condition ; whether platforms, parapets and revetments 
are preserved in order; whether attention is paid to 
drainage; whether the regulations prescribed for the 
care of heavy artillery are properly observed; whether 
magazines are frequently aired and never entered ex- 
cept in the most careful manner, as prescribed by regu- 
lations ; whether a proper system of instruction prevails 



110 

with drills, recitations, &g., reporting the attendance and 
the result ; in guns that are fixed, whether there are 
tables of ranges prepared ; whether the record of artil- 
lery practice required is properly kept and reported, 

&G. 

In the cavalry arm the instructions given regarding 
infantry, as far as apphcable, will be observed and re- 
ports made in accordance therewith. In addition, in- 
spectors will ascertain and report everything pertaining 
to the specialty of this arm ; the character and con- 
dition of the mount, and the care taken of it ; if any 
cavalry horses are used for unauthorized or private 
purposes ; what service has been rendered since the 
last inspection, and under what circumstances ; the 
care taken regarding the shoeing of horses, and their 
health and veterinary treatment ; the quantity and 
quality of the forage rations, whether there has been 
any deficiency, and, if so, who is responsible for it ; 
whether horses are habitually ridden at slow gaits ; 
whether stable duty is properly performed ; wdiat is the 
condition of arms and ammunition ; the state of their 
supply ; the condition of horse equipments, and if 
sufficient and adapted to the service and in proper 
order. 

Inspectors will classify horses thus : 

1st. Those to be condemned for any use whatever in 
any branch of the service. These will be disposed of 
according to regulations. 

2d. Those unfit for cavalry service, but which may be 
fit for team horses or draught purposes. These will be 
turned into the quartermaster's department. 



Ill 

3d. Those now unfit for service, or nearly so, but 
which, by timely treatment at depots, may recuper- 
ate. These will be sent to established depots and re-is- 
sued when serviceable. 

4th. Serviceable horses. 

The number of each class will be given in every report 
of inspection for each troop in the service. Inspector- 
generals will ascertain and report to the commander in 
chief the habits, capacity, efficiency, and integrity of all 
officers in the service of the state ; whether they are 
famihar with the details of their duties ; whether they 
are prompt, accurate, and courteous in conducting their 
business. These reports are generally confidential, but 
whenever any officer is affected by them the proper no- 
tice should be given him, in order that he may be 
allowed to make such explanation as he may desire. 
Inspector-generals will also report whether any em- 
ployee in the military establishment can be discharged 
without detriment to the service. Officers' accounts and 
records will be criticallj^ examined and their condition 
reported to the commander in chief. 

The instructions given for the different arms of the 
service will be observed regarding serviceable articles ; 
unserviceable arms and stores will be inspected and dis- 
posed of in like manner with other property ; their sale 
can be ordered by the governor only. The inspection 
of ordnance and ordnance stores manufactured or pur- 
chased is under the exclusive control of the chief of 
ordnance, and will be made by officers detailed by him 
and acting under his instructions. 

Inspectors-general will examine and report on the 



112 

quantity and quality of medical and other stores belonging 
to the state, and, if there are hospitals, the general care 
of patients, the sufficiency of attendance, the sanitary 
condition of hospitals, and the prompt supply of quar- 
termaster and subsistence stores. 

Inspection of property for condemnation will be per- 
formed in each command by the senior inspecting offi- 
cer of the state, assisted by subordinate brigade or divi- 
sion inspectors. 

Officers having property requiring inspection will 
make a request in letter form through their immediate 
commanding officer therefor. They will send to the 
proper inspectors signed inventories in triplicate, ac- 
cording to form furnished from the inspector-general's 
office of the state, accompanied by a letter of advice, 
stating where the property is. The property will be 
arranged according to description, and every article of 
each class must be examined by the inspector, the offi- 
cer responsible for it accompanying the inspector and 
giving all required information as to its use, care, pres- 
ervation, &c. 

All reports of inspection of property will be submitted 
by the inspector, through his immediate commander, to 
the commander in chief, who orders the final disposition 
of the property. 

Inspectors will state in their reports of damaged or 
inferior quartermaster, commissary, or medical stores, 
the depot whence such stores were obtained, the marks 
upon them, and, if practicable, the marks upon original 
packages and the names of contractors and inspectors 
who furnished and passed the articles so reported. 



113 

Stated inspections and reports will be made in all 
commands whenever ordered by tlie proper staff in- 
spectors. These reports will exhibit the composition of 
each command, designating the regiments and number 
of companies, the number of general, field, staff and 
company officers and enhsted men, the zeal and effici- 
ciency of officers, the aggregate of officers and men 
present, specifying those effective for the field, those 
sick or in arrest, and those not present at inspect- 
ion, the aggregate absent, specifying those sick, 
the aggregate present and absent ; in artillery, the 
number of guns, their general condition, and the 
condition of their various parts, the amount and quality 
of ammunition, and the security and care taken of maga- 
zines. The number of small arms will be reported — 
their land, cahbre, and condition ; the amount and 
quality of ammunition therefor, the condition of accou- 
trements, clothing and horse equipments. A detailed 
statement, by organization, as to the aj^pearance, dis- 
cipline, instruction, and proficiency of enlisted men, 
their personal cleanliness, the poUce of quarters and 
camps, correctness of records and accounts, and the 
care taken of public property generally, and a sum-^ 
mary of principal irregularities in the command should 
be given. 

In commands of not less than a brigade these inspec- 
tions will be made at the dates stated in orders, and in 
the manner prescribed by the state regulations, and by 
instructions upon blank forms furnished from the in- 
spector general's office. In smaller commands, the in- 



114 

spections will be made in the same manner and the 
report forwarded through ordinary channels. 

Special reports, with regard to any matter requiring 
the immediate attention of the commanding general of 
the brigade or division, will be made in letter form as 
often as occasion may arise. These reports are for the 
eye of the commanding officer alone, and at his discre- 
tion may be forwarded to the inspector-general's office, 
with the action by such officer endorsed thereon. 

An officer serving temporarily in place of another is 
not to make any changes in the mode of conducting 
official business. 

On arrival at the headquarters to which he has been 
ordered, each inspector will at once make a thorough 
and rigid inspection of the whole division or field of 
service, unless, for special considerations, it be otherwise 
determined by the commanding general. The regula- 
tions contemplate an inspection of regiments and com- 
panies at the end of every month by their commanding 
officers, and at musters by the mustering officers. 

Inspectors-general will take means to assure them- 
selves that these inspections are regularly and carefully 
made. Although reports of monthly inspections are not 
required beyond those on muster-rolls, yet anything that 
it is proper to bring to notice at headquarters may be 
made the subject of special communication. 

Reports of inspectors will be upon the usual printed 
blank, which is only designed as a form. Other subjects 
than those specified therein must not infrequently be 
introduced, and it may be done either under the head 



115 

of general report or in the ordinary mode of communis 
cation. 

Confidential information respecting matters affecting 
the public service which commanding generals should 
possess, may be made the subject of oral or written 
special reports. Statements, however, affecting the 
character or standing of commissioned officers, or liable 
to produce mischief if incorrect, should not be based 
upon mere rumor, but upon definite ascertainment of 
facts. The harmony of the service, as well as justice to 
individuals and the public, requires that such reports be 
maintained inviolably confidential, and that they should 
not of themselves be made the basis of official proceed- 
ings. The information for such proceedings must be 
derived from open investigation. All appearance of se- 
cret investigation is to be avoided by inspecting officers. 

Copies of all non-confidential inspection reports will 
be forwarded to the inspector-general's office with state- 
ments of the action taken thereon by the several com- 
manders, and with such comments as may be deemed 
necessary. If existing irregularities or deficiencies can 
be remedied by any action of the brigade or division 
commanders it should be stated, with the corrective 
proposed. 

Before troops go into active service they should be 
carefully inspected, and it should be ascertained that 
they are in all respects ready for the march and fit to 
take the field. Eeports of such inspections will be par- 
ticular in describing the condition of the command, its 
arms, equipments, supplies, transportation, &c. 

Inspector-generals are the only officers authorized to 
6 



116 

inspect public property with a view to its condemnation. 
The final disposition of condemned property, as has- 
been already stated, can only be directed by the com- 
mander in chief. When property has become damaged 
or unserviceable in transit, in store, or in the original 
packages, or under any other circumstances, so that an 
immediate ascertainment and record of the fact should 
be made, the commanding officer on the spot, if the ser- 
vices of the inspector-general are not available, may or- 
der a board of survey to collect the facts, whose report 
will be handed to the inspector-general, upon his arrival. 

Inspector-generals, during their tours, will inspect all 
property presented to them for condemnation, upon 
proper inventory and inspection reports ; but, generally, 
inventories of unserviceable property should be for- 
warded to the superior headquarters in anticipation of 
the visit of the inspector-general. 

The exercise of good judgment in the disposition of 
property not serviceable, and a regard for that economy 
in the management of the pubhc resources so particu- 
larly called for at the present time, should govern in- 
specting officers in the discharge of this branch of their 
duties. Property is not to be condemned hastily, or 
merely because of its shabby appearance ; it must be 
clear to the inspector-general that it can no longer be 
used in the public service. 

Great care should be taken to prevent property once 
condemned and ordered to be dropped from the returns 
ever being again presented for inspection. 

The efficient discharge of their duties demands that 
staff inspectors should, by careful application, make 



117 

themselves familiar with everything relating to the differ- 
ent branches of service within the scope of their investi- 
gations. 

Inspecting officers, in recommending the disposition 
to be made of condemned property, especially in the 
quartermaster's department, will bear in mind that 
there is hardly any species of material, however worn, 
which cannot be put to some use. Old Hnen, cotton, 
wool, iron, &c., can all be worked up in some new form, 
and wood can be used as fuel. No condemned articles 
that have any saleable value will be recommended " to 
be dropped," unless there be special reasons for doing 
so ; these must be stated in the report. Officers making 
inspections of troops in the field, or in different portions 
of the state, will forward the report of each inspection 
from the point where it is made, and as soon thereafter 
as the means of regular communication will permit. In- 
specting officers, before transmitting their reports to 
the commanders upon whose staffs they are serving, 
will endorse thereon the remedies that have been re- 
sorted to by the immediate local commanders for the 
correction of irregularities or evils that may have been 
brought to their notice by the inspectors ; and, in order 
that the superior general commanding may be fuUj^ ad- 
vised as to what corrections have been appUed, and to 
enable him to judge of the action necessary to be taken 
by the governor, all commanders through w^hose offices 
copies of reports not confidential have to pass in the 
regular channel of transmittal to the general head- 
quarters of the state, will cause to be endorsed upon 
those reports the action taken by them respectively. 



118 

In order to produce uniformity, and to preserve in a 
consolidated form, convenient for reference, the official 
records of inspecting officers, the inspector of each 
division will hereafter keep in his office the following 
books, viz. : 

One book containing copies of letters sent, one book 
containing copies of letters received, one book contain- 
ing copies of endorsements and memoranda, one book 
containing copies of inspection reports, one book con- 
taining copies of inventory and inspection of property 
reports. All these books should be properly endorsed 
and retained permanently in the inspector's office at 
each division headquarters. 

Governors should call the attention of division 
-commanders to the necessity of confining the expenses 
attending tours of inspection to the smallest limit con- 
sistent with the efficient performance of that important 
duty. Inspecting officers should only be sent on tours 
when some absolutely good result can reasonably be ex- 
pected from their reports. The brigade or division 
commanders themselves can generally learn all that is 
requisite about their commands, especially after one in- 
spection, Avithout themselves visiting the several different 
posts ; and, when they deem it for the real interest of 
the service personally to inspect any portion of their 
commands, they will give orders to no more than one 
staff ofl&cer to accompany them. 

Whenever it becomes the duty of an inspector to in- 
vestigate reports or irregularities prejudicial to the 
character of a commissioned officer, he will invariably 
make known to that officer the nature of the accusa- 



119 

tions against him, and give him an opportunity to make, 
in writing, his own statement upon the subject, which 
statement will be embodied in and form part of the in- 
spector's report. 

When property is condemned and directed to be 
turned into an arsenal or depot, care must be used in 
packing, to prevent it from becoming more unserviceable 
by injury in transportation. 

Inspectors-general, when called upon to inspect un- 
serviceable property, will note whether due care has 
been exercised by oi3Bcers concerned to protect the in- 
terests of the state, and upon the officer responsible for 
any loss accruing to the state, if such loss has not been 
previously charged against the soldier. 

Copies of all reports of the inspection of troops will 
be forwarded through the regular channel if transmitted 
to the inspector general's office at general headquarters, 
and in order that the governor may be advised as to 
the action necessary to be taken by him. 

Officers inspecting public property will cause the 
destruction, in their presence, of aU property found to 
be worthless, and which is without any money value at 
the place of inspection. The action of an inspector on 
property of this character will be final, and his inspec- 
tion report on the same will be a vahd voucher for the 
officer responsible for the property. 

In the discharge of the duty devolved upon inspectors, 
they are reminded they will be regarded as answerable 
that their action is proper and judicious, according to 
the circumstances of the case. 



120 

THE QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL. 

The quartermaster-general is the officer who has 
charge of and is responsible for the military property 
and supplies belonging to the state, which are known as 
quartermaster's stores. He has such a number of 
assistant quartermaster-generals as the military code of 
the state allows ; besides these, each division has a 
quartermaster with the rank of heutenant-colonel, and 
each brigade an assistant quartermaster with the rank of 
captain or major, and each regiment a quartermaster 
with the rank of first lieutenant. The duties of this de- 
partment are very important, and embrace such a wide 
range of subjects that it will be impossible to do more 
than allude to those most necessary to be understood. 
It is the duty of this department to provide quarters 
and transportation for the troops, storage and trans- 
portation for all supplies of clothing and camp and gar- 
rison equipage, fuel and forage, when required, and 
stationery. 

This department also has the purchasing of such 
horses as may be required. 

Under the head of quarters are included all buildings 
for the use of the militia, store-houses, offices, and stables. 
SuppHes of clothing and camp and garrison equipage 
are provided by the quartermaster-general for the offi- 
cers of his department who may be on duty with the 
militia. When troops are moved, or when officers 
travel with escorts, transportation is provided for the 
whole command. The exact return of the whole com- 
mand must be furnished to the quartermaster who pro- 



121 

yides the transportation. Postage and dispatches on 
public business paid for by any officer shall be sent up 
with a certificate to the quartermaster-general, who will 
refund the money. Regimental, brigade, and division 
books and printed blanks for the quartermaster's de- 
partment are to be had by requisition on the quarter- 
master-generaL 

In order to secure the state the quartermaster-gen- 
eral will require all officers of his department to conform 
strictly to the regulations touching returns, accounts, 
Touchers, etc., of his department, and, in their settle- 
ments, they must present to the quartermaster-general 
satisfactory vouchers for all property issued and money 
expended. 

The quartermaster's department is charged with the 
duty of providing the means of transportation by land 
and water for the troops and all the material of war, 
and storage for all mihtary supplies. It furnishes the 
naules and horses for the artillery and cavalry and the 
trains ; supphes tents, camp and garrison equipage, 
fuel, forage, straw, material for bedding, stationery, lum- 
ber, and all materials for camps ; builds barracks and 
iospitals, provides wagons, ambulances, and harness, 
except for artillery and cavalry horses, and, in time of 
war, builds or charters ships and steamers, docks and 
wharves ; constructs or repairs roads, bridges and rail- 
roads, and clothes the army. 

The incidental expenses of the army, paid through the 
quartermaster's department, includes per diem to extra 
duty men, postage and telegrams on public service, 
the expenses of courts-martial, courts of inquiry and 



122 

military commissions, and, generally, the proper and 
authorized expenses for the movements and operations 
of the militia not expressly assigned to any other de- 
partment. 

The quartermaster's department has charge of all 
inspections of its own department, and all reports 
made by officers assigned to inspection duty, analyzing 
and preserving the reports as received, and communi- 
cating, through the quartermaster-general, to the chiefs 
of the proper divisions such portions of these reports as 
may be necessary for their information and use. The 
officers assigned to such inspection duty shall have 
power, not only to report and hand out any errors or 
abuses which they may discover in the practical opera- 
tions of the quartermaster's department, but to give, by 
authority of the quartermaster-general, the orders whick 
may be immediately necessary to correct and to prevent 
the continuance of such abuses or errors. All such 
orders shall be immediately reported to the chief of the 
inspection division for the approval or otherwise of 
the quartermaster-general. 

In the absence of the chief quartermaster from head- 
quarters for any length of time, his duties at headquar- 
ters Tvdll be assumed and performed by the senior officer 
of the quartermaster's department present. 

The quartermaster-general of the state should require 
from all officers of his department serving under his 
direction, reports of the condition of the property in 
their charge, at such times as he may think necessary.. 
They should state the condition of the clothing of the 
troops in each regiment, and the number of articles of 



123 

clothing, and tlie quantity of other supplies needed to 
complete the equipment of the men, according to the 
regulations and general orders in force at the time. 

These reports should be made by regimental quarter- 
masters and by acting assistant and assistant quarter- 
masters to their next superiors in regular order. 

Brigade and division quartermasters will consolidate 
these reports and forward them to the quartermaster- 
general of the state, giving in the consolidated reports 
the estimates in detail for each regiment. The strength 
present of the several organizations should be stated up- 
on the several returns and estimates. The reports 
should be submitted for approval, as provided by regu- 
lations, to the several commanders, regimental, brigade, 
and division, in order. The quartermaster-general will 
consolidate all the reports, and submit them to the 
commander in chief for approval and for his orders. 

Every quartermaster competent for his office will be 
able to estimate accurately enough for all practical pur- 
poses the quantity of every kind of supply which his 
command will be likely to need for the current quarter. 

The duties of quartermaster-general of a state are 
intended to be supervisory and administrative. His 
time should not be occupied with accountability for 
property, and he should have assistants who will receipt 
for and take charge of all property which comes into his 
hands. 

He should be active in visiting the different commands 
and camps, and see with his own eyes the condition of 
troops and supphes. He should be in regular commu- 
nication with the commanding officers of the troops in 
6^ 



124 

the state, and be prepared, at all times, to second their 
exertions for the comfort, health, efficiency and mobility 
of the troops. 

He should be accurately informed as to the supplies 
on hand, their position and condition ; as to the means 
of transportation in the regimental, division and general 
supply trains, and be prepared to supply any deficiency. 

Upon the energy, fidehty, abihty and foresight of the 
chief quartermaster of a body of troops the success of 
any march and of every military operation undertaken by 
their commander largely depends. The chief quarter- 
master is upon the staff of the commandmg officer, and 
should be in the closest relations with him, and his 
authority over the trains, the property and the supplies 
is subordinate only to that of the commander and to 
that of his superior in his own department. 

If he is active and vigilant he can be of the greatest 
service to his commander, and to the troops, and to his 
state. If he is careless his example will corrupt the 
whole department under his direction. 

Quartermasters report to their immediate commanders 
the state of the supplies and whatever concerns the 
service under their direction, and receive their orders, 
and communicate to them those they receive from their 
superiors in their own corps. 

The heads of the several divisions in the quarter- 
master-general's office, shall, under the direction of the 
quartermater-general, from time to time, advertise for 
proposals for the supplies necessary for mihtary pur- 
poses, in newspapers having general circulation in those 
parts of the country where such supplies can be most ad- 



125 

Tantageously furnislied, having regard also to the places 
where the supplies are to be delivered and used ; and 
all supplies so purchased or contracted for shall be 
subject to careful inspection, and all clothing, camp and 
garrison equipage shall be subject to a double inspec- 
tion — first, as to the quality of the material, and second, 
as to the kind and character of the workmanship, which 
inspection shall, in all cases, be performed by a compe- 
tent inspector with suitable assistants, who shall have 
had ample experience in the inspection of cloth, clothing, 
knapsacks, camp and garrison equipage, and all pay- 
ments for supplies so purchased shall be made under 
the direction of the officers in charge of the several 
divisions above mentioned, upon receipts or certificates 
from the officers inspecting and receiving such supplies, 
prepared in such form and attested in such manner as 
may be prescribed by the quartermaster-general. 

When an emergency exists requiring the immediate 
procurement of supplies for the necessary movements 
and operations of any part of the state forces, and when 
such supplies cannot be procured from any established 
depot of the quartermaster's department, or from the 
head of the division charged with the duty of furnishing 
the supplies within the required time, then it shall be 
lawful for the commanding officer of the state troops 
called into service, to order the chief quartermaster of 
his command to procure the supplies required during 
the continuance of such emergency, but no longer, in the 
most expeditious manner and without advertisement ; 
and it shall be the duty of the quartermaster to obey such 
order ; and his accounts of the disbursement of moneys 



126 

for tlie supplies shall be accompanied by the order of 
the commanding officer aforesaid, or a certified copy of 
the same, and also by a statement of the particular 
facts and circumstances, with their dates, constituting 
the emergency which rendered the order necessary. 

No officer or agent in the military service of the state 
shall purchase from any other person in the military 
service, or make any contract Avith any such person to 
furnish supplies or services, or make any purchase or 
contract in which the person with whom the contract is 
made shall be admitted to any share or part, or to any 
benefit to arise therefrom. 

All officers of the quartermaster's department and 
military storekeepers shall, previous to entering on the 
duties of their respective offices, give good and sufficient 
bonds to the state, fully to account for all moneys and 
public property which they may receive, in such sums as 
the governor of the state may direct ; and the officers 
aforesaid shall renew their bonds whenever the governor 
shall so require, and whenever they receive a new^ com- 
mission or appointment. 

The sureties to the bond shall be bound jointly and 
severally for the whole amount of the bond, and shall 
satisfy the governor that they are worth, jointly, double 
the amount of the bond, by the affidavit of each surety,, 
stating that he is worth, over and above his debts and 
liabihties, the amount of the bond, or such other sum as 
he may specify ; and each surety shall state his place of 
residence. 

Whenever volunteer regiments are organized under 
the President's call, until their muster rolls are com- 



127 

pleted, they will be under the exclusive control of the 
governors of the states, and all requisitions for quarter- 
master's stores and contracts for subsistence will, if ap- 
proved by them, be allowed, and not otherwise. 

Where it is desired by the governors of states, the 
United States officers of the quartermaster, medical, and 
ordnance departments may turn over stores to the 
state authorities, to be issued by them in accordance 
with the regulations and accounted for to the proper 
bureau of the war department. 

Boards of survey have no power to condemn public 
property. They are called only for the purpose of es- 
tabhshing data by which questions of administrative re- 
sponsibility may be determined and the adjustment of 
accounts facilitated, as, for example, to assess the 
amount and kind of damage or deficiency which pabhc 
property may have sustained from any extraordinary 
cause not ordinary wear, either in transit or in store or 
in actual use, whether from accident, unusual wastage or 
otherwise, and to set forth the circumstances and fix the 
responsibility of such damage, whether on the carrier or 
the person accountable for the property or having it im- 
mediately, in charge ; to make inventories of property 
ordered to be abandoned when the articles have not 
been enumerated in the orders ; to assess the prices at 
which damaged clothing may be issued to troops, and 
the proportion in which supplies shall be issued in con- 
sequence of damage that renders them, at the usual rate,, 
unequal to the allowance which the regulations contem- 
plate ; to verify the discrepancy between the invoices 
and the actual quantity or description of property trans-^ 



128 

ferred from one officer to another, and ascertain, as far 
as possible, where and how the discrepancy has oc- 
curred — whether in the hands of the carrier or the offi- 
cer making the transfer ; and to make inventories, and re- 
port on the condition of pubhc property in possession 
of officers at the time of their death. The action of the 
board for these authorized objects will be complete with 
the approval of the proper commanding officer, provided 
that neither he nor any of the board are interested par- 
ties, but will be subject to revision by higher authority. 
In no case, however, will the report of the board super- 
sede the depositions which the law requires with refer- 
ence to deficiencies and damage. 

Boards of survey will not be convened by any other 
than the commanding officer of the brigade or division 
present, and will be composed of as many officers, not 
exceeding three, as may be present for duty, exclusive 
always of the commanding officer, and the officer re- 
sponsible in the matter to be reported on, but in case 
the two latter only are present, then the one not respon- 
sible will perform the duties, and the responsible officer 
will perform them only if there be no other recourse. 
The proceedings of the board will be signed by each 
member, and a copy forwarded through the proper chan- 
nels by the approving officer to the state headquarters 
of the department, duplicates being furnished to the 
officer accountable for the property. 

When public property is received by any officer he 
will make a careful examination to ascertain its quality 
and condition, but without breaking packages until is- 
sues are to be made, unless there should be cause to 



129 

suppose the contents defective, and in any sucli case he 
will apply for a board of survey for the purposes set forth 
in the apphcation. If he believes the property to be 
unfit for use, and the public interest requires it to be 
condemned, he will, in addition, report that fact to the 
commanding officer of the troops with whom he is serv- 
ing, who will make, or cause to be made, a critical inspec- 
tion of it, according as he may be commander of the 
post only or have a higher command. If the inspector 
reports the property fit it shall be received and used, if 
not, he will forward a formal inspection report to the 
commander empowered to give orders in the case. The 
same rule will be observed, according to the nature of 
the case, with reference to the property already on hand. 
The person accountable for the property, or having it in 
charge, will submit an inventory which will accompany 
or be embodied in the inspection report, stating how 
long the property has been in his possession, how long 
in use, and from whom it was received. The inspectors 
report will state the exact condition of each article and 
what disposition it is expedient to make of it. 

Supplies of clothing, camp and garrison equipage will 
be sent by the quartermaster-general, from the general 
depot to the officers of his department stationed with 
the troops. 

The contents of each package and the sizes of cloth- 
ing in it will be marked on it. 

The receiving quartermaster will give duplicate re- 
ceipts for the clothing as invoiced to him, if the packages 
as received and marked agree with the invoices and ap- 
pear rightly marked and in good order, if otherwise, an 



130 

inspection will be made by a board of survey, whose re- 
port in case of damage or deficiency will be transmitted — 
one copy to the quartermaster-general and one to the 
officer forwarding the supplies. In case of damage the 
board will assess the damage to each article. 

Officers transferring clothing or camp and garrison 
equipage will make the invoice thereof in triplicate, tw^o 
copies of which will be delivered or transmitted to the 
officer to whom the transfer is made, and the third will 
be transmitted forthwith by mail to the quartermaster- 
general. The only exception to this regulation is where 
company commanders or other officers issue clothing 
directly to enlisted men. 

No article of clothing, or camp and garrison equipage 
will be dropped from the returns as worn out or unser- 
viceable until condemned, after proper inspection, and 
ordered to be so dropped. 

When an officer in charge of clothing, or camp and gar- 
rison equipage is removed from the care of it, the com- 
manding officer shall designate an officer to receive it, 
or he will take charge of it himself until a successor be 
regularly appointed ; w^here no officer can remain to re- 
ceive it the commanding officer will take suitable means 
to secure it, and report the facts to the proper authority. 

All communications pertaining to the office of the quar- 
termaster-general, or relating to the duties thereof, will 
be addressed to the quartermaster-general, and all official 
correspondence conducted, or orders issued by the heads 
of the several divisions of his office will be by his order 
or authority. The same rule will apply in the case of 
the other officers who may be assigned to special duty 



131 

in the office of the quartermaster-general or authorized 
by him to conduct correspondence under his direction 
and by his orders. 

All communications to the quartermaster-general re- 
lating to '* clothing and camp and garrison equipage'* 
will be so endorsed on the envelope under the word 
" official," with the signature thereto of the officer writing 
the communication. 

THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE. 

The chief of ordnance is the officer of the general 
staff who has charge of and is responsible for the 
military property and supphes of the state known as 
ordnance. He keeps in good repair the arsenals of the 
state and sees to their proper maintenance. He is also 
responsible for the cleaning and repairing of the artillery 
and small arms and accoutrements belonging to the 
state. He is charged with and is responsible for am- 
munition and implements of every kind pertaining in 
any way to the ordnance, and he has the disposition and 
control of all property of this sort belonging to the 
state. Under the direction of the governor he may 
sell, if it is to the advantage of the state to do so,. 
any damaged ordnance, arms, ammunition and similar 
stores of every kind, which, in the opinion of the 
governor, are unsuitable for the use of the state, and 
he will render an account of all such sales made by 
him to the commander in chief. The proceeds of these 
sales will be expended in the purchase of arms, am- 
munition, and other stores or equipage that the com- 
mander in chief may direct to be purchased. The chief 



132 

of ordnance, with the approval of the commander in 
chief, will issue to any commanding officer, upon his re- 
quisition transmitted through the proper military chan- 
nels, such ordnance supplies as the command is entitled 
to and requires. The inspectors of brigades and di- 
visions will report to the chief of ordnance, the condition 
of arms, implements, and other equipments in their re- 
spective commands at least once a year. The chief of 
ordnance will also make a report to the governor every 
year before the meeting of the legislature, which will 
show the condition and disposition of all arms, ord- 
nance stores, ammunition, or any other property be- 
longing to his department or in his charge. The most 
important duty of the chief of ordnance is to obtain 
from the general government the ordnance stores, am- 
munition, &c., standing to the credit of the respective 
states, and a brief explanation of the method of pro- 
curing these stores will be useful to newly appointed 
ordnance officers. 

Section 1661, Eev. Stat., U. S., makes an annual ap- 
propriation of $200,000 for providing arms and equip- 
ments for the militia. 

This appropriation is under the control of the chief of 
ordnance, U. S. army, on whom the governors of the 
several states and territories, and the commissioners 
of the District of Columbia, make requisition for such 
arms, &c., as they may require, not exceeding in money 
value, however, the amount to their credit on the books 
of his office. 

All communications from state authorities on matters 
relating to arming and equipping the militia by the 



133 

United States should be addressed to " the Chief of 
Ordnance, U. S. Army, "Washington, D. C." 

Section 1667, Kev. Stat., provides that arms, &c., 
shall be distributed to the various states on the basis 
of their representation in Congress, and that the dis- 
tribution to the territories shall be made under such 
regulations as the President may prescribe. 

The President directed, April 30, 1855, that the quotas 
of the territories and the District of Columbia should 
be the same as the state having the smallest represen- 
tation in Congress. 

On the 1st of July each year, each state and territory, 
and the District of Columbia, is credited on the books of 
the Chief of Ordnance, U. S. Army, with the money 
value of its quota for the fiscal year ending the following 
30th of June. 

Rifles, and other small arms, accoutrements, field artil- 
lery, equipments, and ammunition, of the patterns adopted 
for the troops of the United States can be issued to 
the governor for the militia of any state or territory, at 
the request of the governor thereof, when the quota due 
will permit. 

To procure ordnance stores for a state the governor 
makes requisition on the chief of ordnance in the fol- 
lowing form : 

Executive Department, State of Louisiana, 
New Orleans, 18 

To the Chief of Ordnance, U. S. A., 
Washington, D. C. 
Sir: 

Under the provisions of section 1661, revised stat- 



134 

utes of tlie United States, I hereby make requisition for 
the following ordnance stores for the use of the organized 
militia of this State, viz.: 

200 Springfield Eifles, cal. 45. 
200 Waist Belts and Plates. 
200 Bayonet Scabbards. 
200 Cartridge Boxes for cal. 45., ammunition.. 
200 Gun Slings. 
10,000 Eifle Ball Cartridges cal. 45. 
2,000 Eifle Blank Cartridges, cal. 45. 

I request that the stores may be sent to 

at 

EespectfuUy, 

Your obedient servant. 



Governor. 

By the regulations of the war department, the gov^ 
ernor of the state signs all requisitions on the chief of 
ordnance, U. S. Army, for arms, etc. He also signs 
receipts in triplicate for said arms, etc., when received^ 
and returns them to the officer who invoiced the property 
to him. The governor signs and receipts — no one can 
sign by Ms order or in his stead. 

Ordnance and ordnance stores issued to the militia, 
from government arsenals are delivered at such point 
in the State — on railroad or navigable water — as the 
governor may designate, and all freight charges thereon 
are paid by the United States. 

The duties of the chief of ordnance of a state should 
be the same as those prescribed by United States laws. 



135 

and regulations as the duties of the chief of ordnance 
of the U. S. Army, in so far as they relate to the care and 
issue of, and accountabihty for, ordnance and ordnance 
stores, but, of course, this wiU depend on the laws of 
each state. They should consist in receiving, preserv- 
ing, distributing, and accounting for all munitions of 
war. 

He should take receipts for all ordnance and ordnance 
stores issued by him, and officers to whom the same shall 
be delivered should be required to execute and promptly 
transmit to him the proper receipts. 

Officers responsible for ordnance or ordnance stores 
should be required to make returns therefor to the chief 
of ordnance annually, or oftener if so directed, and in 
such manner, and on such forms as may be prescribed 
by him. 

The chief of ordnance should keep in his office a book 
in which to record the quantity and kind of all ordnance 
and ordnance stores belonging to the state, as well as a 
record of all ordnance and ordnance stores issued to 
each officer, when they were issued, and where they are 
kept. 

If any change in command takes place in any regi- 
ment or company furnished with arms, &c., belonging to 
the state, the chief of ordnance should immediately re- 
quire a renewal of the bond given therefor ; and, unless 
a new bond be promptly given, approved according to 
law for such arms, &c., he should order the return there- 
of, forthwith, to such arsenal or officer as he may desig- 
nate. 

The chief of .ordnance should also, in like manner, re- 



136 

quire bonds given for arms, &c., to be renewed whenever 
the surety thereto shall die, or become insolvent, or re- 
move out of the state. 

All commissioned officers to whom any ordnance or 
ordnance stores, the property of the state, shall be is- 
sued, or who shall come into command of any regiment, 
or company, to which the same may have been issued, 
or otherwise in the possession thereof, should make re- 
ports to the chief of ordnance, in respect thereto, at 
such times and in such manner as he shall requu"e. 

The chief of ordnance should see that no issue or 
loan of ordnance or ordnance stores is made from any 
arsenal, depot or armory in his charge, without the spe- 
cial order of the commander in chief. 

All damages to or losses of any ordnance stores shall 
be reported to him, and when the loss or damage is not 
the result of unavoidable accident, or is not due to the 
incidents of service, he should cause the loss to the 
state to be made good by the party found responsible 
therefor. 

He should make frequent inspections of all the arse- 
nals, depots, and armories, and report to the proper 
authority the result of his inspections, with such recom- 
mendations as the interests of the service require. 

The chief of ordnance should have charge of all rifle 
practice of the militia, and direct the time and manner 
in which the same should be conducted. He should also 
inspect, or cause to be inspected, from time to time, all 
armories, ranges, and practice grounds, to see that the 
necessary regulations for rifle practice are carried out, 
and that proper returns thereof are made to him. 



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138 

FoEM No. 1 — (5.) (For infantry and heavy artillery.) 
Quarterly return of ordnance and ordnance stores^ received^ issued, and 





1 

o 
> 

o 
B 




CLASS VI. 1 






Breech-load- 
ing rifles. 


Swords. 






Service- 
able. 


Unserv- 
iceable. 


Service- 
able. 


Unserv - 
iceable. 


Date. 




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187-. 


On hand from last return .... 


— 


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Taken up as per 




Received from 




Received from 

Total to be accounted for 




Issued to 




Issued to 




Condemned and dropped by order of 
ExDPndpd as "ner abstract. 




Lost or destroved. as Der 




Charged, as per statement 




Total issued and expended 


1 




Remaining on hand to be accounted 
for on next return 













I certify that the foregoing return exhibits a correct statement of the public 



Station : . 

Post-office address of station : . 

^y The maximum strength of the Company during the year was men. 



139 



remaining on hand in - 



, Regiment - 



, for the year ending - 



, 187-. 



CLASS VII. 


CLASS 
VIM. 


MISCELLA- 
NEOUS. 


Equip- 
ments. 


Accoutrements. 


Appendages. 


Cart- 
ridges. 






Serviceable 


Serviceable. 


Unserv- 
iceable. 


Service- 
able. 


Unserv- 
iceable. 


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Non-commissioned officers' and 
musicians' sword-belts and plates, 
double frogs. 


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property in my charge during the year ending , 187-. 



Commanding, 



140 

MISCELLANEOUS. 



Classification and Accountability, 

The general denomination " ordnance and ordnance 
stores" comprehends all cannon and artillery carriages 
and equipments ; all apparatus and machines for the 
service and manoeuyre of artillery ; all small-arms, ac- 
coutrements and horse equipments ; all ammunition, 
and all tools, machinery, and materials for the ordnance 
service ; horse medicines, materials for shoeing, and all 
horse equipments and harness for the artillery ; and, in 
general, all property, of whatever nature, supplied to the 
military establishment by the ordnance department. 

All ordnance and ordnance stores prepared for issue 
are divided into ten general classes, numbered from one 
to ten inclusive, forming part first of the ordnance 
return. 

Class 1 embraces all mountain, field, siege, garrison, 
and sea coast guns, howitzers, mortars, and machine- 
guns of all classes. 

Class 2 embraces carriages for all guns, howitzers, 
and mortars enumerated in Class 1, and includes mor- 
tar-beds, ordnance-wagons, forges, and ammunition- 
carts. 

Class 3 embraces all implements and equipments in 
classes 1 and 2, including artillery harness and paulins. 

Class 4 embraces all unprepared projectiles for moun- 
tain, field, siege, garrison, and sea-coast guns, howitzers 
and mortars, and includes hand-grenades. 

Class 5 embraces all the stores comprised in Class 4 
which are partially or fully prepared for service. 



141 

Class 6 embraces all small-arms, sabers, swords, and 
bayonets. 

Class 7 embraces all appendages for small-arms, horse 
equipments for cavalry, and the accoutrements and 
equipments for the infantry, cavalry, and artillery sol- 
diers. 

Class 8 embraces all metallic and other ammunition 
for small-arms, and its complete components, such as 
powder, lead balls, percussion- caps, fuses for artillery 
projectiles, blank cartridges for cannon, signal-shells, 
fire-rockets, &c. 

Class 9 embraces platforms for mortars and siege- 
guns, artillery machines, articles for mechanical manoeu- 
vres, intrenching-tools, and miscellaneous articles for 
army use. 

Class 10 embraces all parts or incomplete sets of the 
articles enumerated in classes one to nine inclusive. 

Part second embraces all stores which properly come 
under the head of materials, machines, inspecting in- 
struments, tools, animals, lands, buildings, &c. 

The object of making a return of property is to pre- 
sent, at stated times, an exact account duly vouched for, 
of all the property with which an officer is properly to 
be debited, and also of all property with which he is to 
be credited. The difference between the two gives his 
exact accountability. 

The first step in making out a return is to prepare a 
correct classified list of all the articles for which the offi- 
cer is responsible. This is done from the invoices or 
inventories, which, taken together, must necessarily give 
the name of every article. 



142 

In making out the first return due, the line '^ on hand 
from last return" is, of course, left blank ; but on this 
line is stated, under the proper heads, in all subsequent 
returns, the " balance on hand to be accounted for " at 
the date of the last return, as indicated by its bottom 
line. 

The date of that return is always given in its proper 
place, when the balance on hand is entered on the next 
return. 

All property transferred to other persons, or other- 
wise satisfactorily accounted for by proper vouchers, 
grouped together, gives the credit side of the account, 
and forms the '' Total issued and expended." This last, 
subtracted from the '' Total to be accounted for," gives 
the amount with which the officer is chargeable on the day 
of making the return, or the "Balance on hand to be 
accounted for on next return." 

Every ofiicer to whom ordnance stores are intrusted, 
records, in detail, all receipts of such property, noting the 
date of reception, or when he became charged with their 
care ; from whom or how received, and the full name 
and quantity of each article. In the same manner is 
kept an accurate list of all such stores as are issued, ex- 
pended, or disposed of in any way whatsoever, giving 
the dates and all the circumstances connected with each 
transaction. 

The following blanks indicate the proper form of re- 
return for, viz : 

Form No. 1 b, for Infantry. 

Form No. 1 h, for the use of oflficers on detached 
duty having ordnance stores in charge. 



PABT III. 



COURTS-MARTIAL-CEREMONIES-USE OF 
MILITIA IN AID OF CIVIL POWER- 
CARE OF ARTILLERY. 



145 



GENERAL COURTS-MARTIAL. 



Courts -martial are composed generally of commis- 
sioned officers of the line. Chaplains are not eligible ; 
medical officers may be detailed as members when other 
officers cannot conveniently be detailed. General courts- 
martial for the trial of commissioned officers should be 
ordered by the commander in chief, at such times as the 
interest of the service may require, and shall consist of 
not less than three nor more than seven officers, none 
of them to be of less rank than the accused. In ap- 
pointing a general court-martial, as many members will 
be detailed as can be assembled without manifest injury 
to the service ; the decision of the officer ordering the 
court, as to the number of members, being conclusive. 

The judge advocate of a general court-martial should 
be named in the order convening it, and, when practi- 
cable, should be a regularly commissioned judge advo- 
cate. It is not customary to appoint a medical officer 
as judge advocate. 

The authority convening a general court-martial may 
relieve the judge advocate so appointed, and appoint 
another at any stage of the proceedings, but, before en- 
tering upon the duties of the office, the new judge ad- 
vocate must be duly sworn by the president of the court, 
in the presence of the accused, and the fact be noted on 
the record with the order appointing him. The judge 
advocate is the prosecuting officer, but, as he is not a 
member of the court, he is not challengeable. 



146 

A president of the court will be appointed ; the officer 
highest in rank present will be president. In the detail 
the members will be named in the order of their rank, 
and they will so take their places in the court. The 
place of holding a general courts-martial should be 
designated in the order convening it. 

The duties of members and of judge advocates of courts- 
martial are of such grave importance that no officer 
liable to such service should neglect an opportunity of 
acquiring a knowledge of mihtary law and the practice 
of the military courts. Whenever the officer convening 
a court-martial may deem necessary the order may di- 
rect the court to sit without regard to hours. Unless 
otherwise directed in the order, courts-martial will sit 
only between the hours of eight o'clock, A. M., and three 
o'clock, p. M. 

The president of a general court-martial, besides his 
duties and privileges as member, is the organ of the 
court to keep order and conduct its business. He speaks 
and acts for the court in each case when the rule has 
been prescribed by law, regulation, or its own resolution. 
In all their deliberations the law secures the equality of 
the members. 

The president is required to see that the members 
attend the sittings of the court in full uniform whenever 
practicable, and that they maintain perfect order and de- 
corum. He will prohibit all conversation, letter writing, 
or other practice not consistent with the closest atten- 
tion to the business of the court. 

A court-martial has no power to punish its own mem- 
bers. For disorderly conduct a member of a court-mar- 



147 

tial is liable as in other offenses against military disci- 
pline, and a neglect or refusal to obey the orders of the 
president, given in the maintenance of order, shall be 
punished as disobedience of orders. 

Members of a general court-martial cannot ask verbal 
questions of witnesses. Every question shall be put in 
writing by its proposer, and passed through the presi- 
dent to the judge advocate, who will read it aloud. Any 
member, the judge advocate, or the accused, may object 
to a question as soon as asked. The objection shall be 
reduced to writing, and all discussion on the points in- 
volved must be in closed court. A question put by an 
individual member, if accepted, is recorded as by the 
court ; if rejected, as by a member. 

Details to supply the vacancies on courts-martial must 
always be made by the authority appointing the court, 
and in no case can this authority be delegated to any 
other officer. 

In case of the illness or inability of a member of a 
general court-martial to attend the sittings of the court, 
either before or after the commencement of a trial, the 
court may adjourn from day to day for a reasonable 
time, if it be probable that the absent member will be 
enabled to appear within that period. Should the seat of 
a member or members be vacated permanently, a gene- 
ral court-martial will proceed with the trial, unless the 
number falls below the minimum prescribed by law. 

At the time and place appointed, the members of the 
court will assemble, but they cannot proceed to any 
business, except to adjourn, unless the judge advocate be 
present. Officers assembled to constitute a general court- 



148 

martial may meet and adjourn from day to day when 
there is not the legal complement present to proceed to 
trial, but no other act of theirs can be recognized. 

The day and place of meeting of a court-martial can 
only be changed by the authority ordering the same, or 
higher authority. 

A court, after having entered upon a trial which has 
to be suspended on account of the absence of witnesses, 
or other cause, may take up a new case and proceed 
with it to its termination before resuming the trial of the 
first case. 

A general court-martial cannot appoint a judge advo- 
cate, or direct the junior member to act as such. No 
other than the judge advocate appointed by the power 
convening the court can legally act. 

Specifications should be framed with reference to the 
form of the charge, to accurately sustain it by facts, 
dates, and places, while excluding all superfluous matter. 
They should designate the accused by his full name, 
rank, and the regiment (or corps) and company to which 
he belongs. 

Although, in the specification to charges, time and 
place ought to be laid with as much certainty as practi- 
cable, still, it is sufficient in law to prove the offense to 
have been committed at or near the place, and on or 
about the date specified. 

It is not proper to cumulate specifications — that is, to 
charge a series of offenses, each trifiing in itself, and 
which would not, taken singly, support a serious charge. 
But, if each specification would, in itself, if proven, sup- 
port the charge, there is no reason why offenses com- 



149 

mitted during a period running back for any time not 
exceeding two years should not be tried at one time. 
Sucli specifications are not to be considered cumulative. 

Drunkenness on duty may be charged against an officer, 
who, while in the exercise of his proper command or in 
the performance of any duty for which he should be pre- 
pared at a moment's warning, is found unfit, by reason 
of drunkenness, to properly perform his duty ; as, during 
Sb tour as officer of the day ; while in command of, or on 
duty as medical officer at a post ; while on parade or 
drill ; when detailed or ordered to execute any duty 
requiring his attention from day to day, etc. 

Distinct facts are not to be included in the same 
charge or specification, but must appear in distinct 
charges or specifications. 

No material changes can be made at the headquarters 
of the officer authorized to order the court in the charges 
and specifications preferred by an officer over his signa- 
ture. If the charges as sent up be not approved, they 
should be returned to the officer preparing them for 
revision. 

Whenever an officer is put in arrest, or any person in 
the militia forces confined for a stated ofi'ense cognizable 
by a general court-martial, the jurisdiction of such court 
will be deemed to have at once attached, although 
charges in due form may not have been prepared, pro- 
vided, however, that such charges be served within thirty 
days after the arrest of the offenders. 

The charges must state clearly and distinctly some 
mihtary oftense of which the accused is alleged to be 



150 

guilty, so that he may know precisely the offense of 
which he is accused. 

The specifications to the charge must allege certain 
specified acts done by the accused, which are presumed 
to constitute the general offense named in the charge. 

But charges and specifications must be so distinctly 
alleged that neither the accused nor the court can have 
any difficulty in knowing what is the precise object of 
the investigation. 

After the charges and specifications have been ordered 
to be investigated, neither the judge advocate nor any 
other person is competent to change them without the 
consent of the authority ordering the investigation^ 
except in the case of a plea in abatement. 

Charges must be subscribed by the officer making 
them ; if he prefer charges by direction of a court or 
board, or by order of higher authority, he should sa 
state over his signature. 

Officers and soldiers will be held amenable to the 
mihtary law and tribunals for offenses committed by 
them while on duty, whether in uniform or not, and they 
will be deemed to be on duty during the performance of 
any service which may be lawfully required of them, or 
which they may voluntarily perform, and while going to 
and returning from the performance of such service. 

Commissioned officers will also be amenable to the 
military courts upon charges for un-officer-like conduct, 
when such conduct has reference to or connection with 
the military duties, in the discharge of which the accused 
or the accuser may be or may have been engaged. 

Military courts will also exercise jurisdiction upon the 



151 

proper charges of un-officer-like conduct, or disrespect 
to a superior officer while wearing his uniform, though 
he may not be on duty. 

No person can be tried and punished by a court- 
martial for any offense which has been committed more 
than two years before the issuing of the order for such 
trial, unless the person, by reason of having absented 
himself from the state, or some other impediment, shall 
not have been within the jurisdiction of the state in 
that period of time. 

When an officer in commission is proceeded against 
for an offense committed within two years before the 
commencement of the proceedings, a discharge or resig- 
nation subsequent to the committing of such offense 
does not bar such proceedings. 

In case the charges which have been served upon the 
accused are altered before the arraignment, a certified 
copy of them, as so altered, should be served upon the 
accused ten days before the day of trial, by direction of 
the officer ordering the court. 

The court shall, for reasonable cause, grant a con- 
tinuance to either party for such time and as often as 
appears to be just. 

Upon application by the accused for postponement, on 
the ground of the absence of a witness, it ought to be 
distinctly set forth on oath— /zV-s^, that the witness is 
material, and how ; second^ that the accused has used 
due diligence to procure his attendance ; and third, that 
he has reasonable ground to beheve, and does believe, 
that he will be able to procure such attendance within a 
reasonable time stated. 



152 

Whenever the same general court-martial tries more 
prisoners than one, and they are arraigned on separate 
and distinct charges, the members of the conrt will be 
sworn at the commencement of each trial, and the pro- 
ceedings in each case should be made up separately. 

Any officer on trial has a right to know who is the 
author of the charges against him. 

The accused is entitled to counsel as a right. He 
should make written application to the court for per- 
mission to introduce the person selected as his counsel, 
and if there be no valid objection to the person intro- 
duced, he must be admitted as counsel on the trial. 
Refusal to admit counsel, except for just cause, will 
invaUdate the proceedings. 

The judge advocate, the president, or any member 
of the court, may testify as a witness, either for the 
prosecution or defense. 

The court having assembled for the trial of a case, 
the members arrange themselves on the right and left of 
the president according to seniority. The judge advo- 
cate, at the opening of each session, calls the names of 
the members. The prisoner is then brought into court. 

All motions, arguments and examinations of witnesses 
by his counsel will be as valid as if made by the accused 
himself. The court, however, in its discretion, may 
require that such proceedings be reduced to writing, 
and questions of the accused asked the witnesses directly 
or through the judge advocate, or that they be made 
viva voce, and thereupon entered on the record l)y the 
judge advocate, whichever mode seems to the court 
most convenient for the dispatch of business. 



153 

Counsel may be admitted by the court on behalf of 
the accused at any stage of the proceedings. 

In the examination of witnesses, common law rules 
of evidence should apply, except where subsequently 
modified by statute. 

When the court is convened at the time and place 
appointed for its organization, the accused and his 
counsel will be furnished with seats in the presence of 
the court. 

The judge advocate will then stand up and read the 
order convening the court, and ask the accused if he has 
any objection to any member present, named in the 
detail. 

For answer the accused may avail himself of any legal 
cause of challenge. 

Peremptory challenges are not allowed. Objection 
can only be made to one member at a time, and the 
cause must be stated and regularly entered on the pro- 
ceedings. 

The accused may also object, at this stage of the pro- 
ceedings, to the authority of the court (for any cause,) 
to proceed to trial, and all he will be deemed to admit 
by not objecting is that the court is a legal court. 

In every case where facts are alleged in support of a 
plea in bar, the court, before recognizing the plea, must 
take full evidence to prove the alleged facts. 

The privilege of challenges extends to the accused 
and to the judge advocate. 

Sufficient causes of challenge are : 

I. Having expressed or formed an opinion as to the 
guilt or innocence of the accused. 



154 

IT. Having been a member of a court which gave an 
opinion in the case, or of another court-martial in whick 
the subject matter was investigated and decided. 

III. Prejudice, mahce, or any like cause which, 
would disqualify a juror in a civil case. 

When a member of the court is challenged, the court 
will be cleared, and the member challenged should retire, 
and then the court will determine the challenge. 

When the facts constituting the cause of challenge are 
not admitted by the opposite party, they must be estab- 
Hshed by proof ; and the members of the court only, 
who are not challenged, shall participate in the trial and 
decision of the challenge. 

In all cases, when the vote is equally divided on a 
challenge, the decision shall be deemed in favor of the 
party challenging. 

If, in consequence of challenges, the court is reduced 
below the legal number of members, all further proceed- 
ings in the case must be suspended and the fact reported 
to the officer ordering the court, w^ho may convene a 
new court or designate additional members of the same 
court, in which case the trial will be re-commenced, 
allowing the privilege of challenge to any such new court 
or additional member. 

Should the accused not be present at the time and 
place appointed for the organization of the court, it may 
proceed with the trial in his absence, and, in case of a 
general court-martial, be sworn ; but preliminary pro- 
cedure the judge advocate must submit to the court 
(to be duly noted in or attached to its proceedings,) 



155 

record or oral evidence that the accused has been duly 
notified as required by law. 

After the court is assembled, and after all challenges, 
if any are made, have been determined, the judge ad- 
vocate, whether commissioned or special, will administer,, 
in the presence of the accused, to each member, the 

following oath : " You, do swear that you will 

well and truly try and determine, according to evidence, 

the matter now before you, between the State of , 

and the prisoner to be tried, and that you will duly ad- 
minister justice without partiality, favor, or affection, 
according to the provisions of law and regulations for 
the government of the military forces of this state, and 
if any doubt should arise not explained by said laws 
and regulations, then according to your conscience and 
the best of your understanding; and you do further 
swear that you will not divulge the sentence of the court 
until it shall be published by the proper authority;, 
neither will you disclose or discover the vote or opinion 
of any particular member of the court-martial, unless 
required to give evidence thereof as a witness by a 
court of justice in a due course of law, so help you 
God." And then the president of the court shall ad- 
minister to the judge advocate the following oath : 

" You do swear that you will not disclose or 

discover the vote or opinion of any particular member 
of the court-martial, unless required to give evidence 
thereof as a witness by a court of justice in due course 
of law, nor divulge the sentence of the court to any but 
the proper authority, until it shall be duly disclosed by 
the same. So help you God." If the accused shall fail 



156 

to appear at the time appointed for the organization of 
said court, the above oaths may be administered in his 
absence. 

Courts-martial, after their organization, are open to 
the attendance of the general public, with the right to 
regulate or refuse such admission, as the court may de- 
termine for the interests of the service. 

Applications to postpone or to suspend the trial may 
be urged before a court-martial at any time subsequent 
to swearing its members. But all applications to delay 
the assembling of a court, from the absence or indis- 
position of a witness, the illness of the parties, or other 
cause, must be made to the authority ordering the court. 

Upon any motion or question requiring the dehbera- 
tion and decision of the court, except on a motion for 
ordinary adjournment, the court will usually be cleared 
by order of the president, either of his motion or at 
the instance of any other member, or of the judge 
advocate. 

When, however, the court has come to a decision upon 
a particular point, it may authorize its president to give 
the same decision whenever the same point shall again 
arise in the same case, without requiring the court to be 
again cleared, unless a member demand it. 

Incidental discussion among the members, as to the 
merits of the case on trial, should always be held wdth 
closed doors, no one being present other than the mem- 
bers and judge advocate. 

After a court-martial has once assembled it sits in 
pursuance of law, and neither the commander in chief 
nor the authority by which it was convened can in any 



157 

manner interfere with its proceedings. The court exists 
until dissolved by the authority which appointed it, or a 
higher authority, after its decision shall have been ap- 
proved or disapproved by the officer ordering it. 

But, should the court deem it proper to refer to the 
officer ordering it for instructions, any reply which he 
may make, or any communication which he may think 
proper to lay before the court will always be entitled to 
a respectful consideration, though it is in no way incum- 
bent on the court to be governed thereby. 

When the organization of the court is completed by 
all the members taking the oath required, the judge ad- 
vocate will then proceed to read the charges and specifica- 
tions, and to ask the accused separately on each charge 
and specification if he be guilty or not guilty of the 
charge or specification just read. When the charges 
and specifications are read to the accused by the judge 
advocate, and he is asked whether he be guilty or not 
guilty, the accused must plead thereto either 

I. Guilty ; or, 

II. To the jurisdiction, by alleging that the offense 
with which he is charged is not by law recognizable by 
the court, or that he is not subject by law to be tried by 
a court-martial ; or, 

III. In abatement for misnomer or a vn^ong or false 
addition to his name, in which case he is bound to state 
what his real name or addition is, and the court may 
then amend the charges and specifications to meet the 
objection and proceed to the trial ; or, 

IV. In bar a former trial and acquittal or conviction 
for the same offense before a mihtary court having com- 



158 

petent jurisdiction, or any other plea, assigning sufficient 
reason why he need not answer or be put on his trial ; or, 

V. He may demur, by pleading that if the facts stated 
in the specifications were true they would not amount 
as stated to the offense charged ; or, 

VI. He may plead not guilty. 

The accused cannot plead in bar that he has not been 
furnished mth a correct copy of the charges and specifi- 
cations, but when this is the case, and it is proven by 
the accused, the court should adjourn or proceed to 
consider some other case, so as to admit proper service. 

There need not be any special form in making these 
pleas. When a plea other than guilty or not guilty is 
made, it is generally sufficient for the accused to state 
verbally or in writing that he objects to being tried on 
such a charge or such a specification, giving his reasons, 
and that he therefore requests the court to dismiss the 
same at once. The plea of guilty or not guilty may be 
to the whole or any part of any charge or specification. 

The accused may introduce evidence to support his 
preliminary pleas, and the judge advocate in like man- 
ner may rebut the allegations of the pleas. 

When the specifications do not amount to any offense 
cognizable by a military court, the accused can take 
advantage of it by a demurrer, or by a plea to the juris- 
diction, or under the plea of not guilty. 

Though the accused may have made any or all of the 
preliminary pleas, he is yet at liberty, if they be not sus- 
tained by the court, or after a plea of abatement if the 
charges be amended, to plead not guilty. 

If, from obstinacy or design, the accused does not an- 



159 

swer at all, or answers foreign to the purpose, lie will be 
regarded as standing nmte, and (in all such cases, and 
also whenever the accused neglects or refuses to appear 
for trial,) the court will proceed to trial and judgment as 
if he had regularly pleaded not guilty. When the ac- 
cused pleads not guilty^ and the trial is ready to proceed, 
the witnesses should be ordered out of court. 

In all cases where the punishment of the offense 
charged is discretionary, and especially where the dis- 
cretion includes a wide range of punishment, notwith-. 
standing the accused pleads guilty, it is the duty of the 
court to receive such testimony as is necessary to illus- 
trate the actual character and degree of the offense. 

A witness may not only be subpoenaed to appear, but 
also to bring with him any documents in his possession 
or under his control, and any person present in court 
may be required to give evidence, though not previously 
summoned. It is the duty of officers and soldiers to 
obey all subpoenas issued by a court-martial when duly 
served on them, and the refusal to do so without suffi- 
cient reason should be treated as a military offense. 

In receiving evidence the court should take care not 
only to obtain such knowledge of the case as is essential 
to measure the punishment, but to spread its informa- 
tion upon the record, to enable the reviewing power to 
judge intelligently of the verdict. 

Depositions of witnesses residing beyond the limits of 
of the state may be taken, upon reasonable notice to the 
opposite party, and duly authenticated. 

When a court has been reconvened after sentence for 
a reconsideration of its action, it is not competent for it 



160 

to take any new evidence whatever, and no order should 
be made requiring a court to reconvene for such purpose. 

The accused may always make either a verbal or a 
written defense or statement. 

It is the right of either party to insist that all witnesses 
(except the one under examination) leave the court dur- 
ing such examination, and if either party apply for such 
an order the court should not refuse it. No person 
who has been present at the examination of a witness 
should himself be afterward examined as a witness, un- 
less by special order of the court, unless such witness is 
a member or judge advocate. 

It is also a matter of right for either party to have a 
witness out of court, unless a member or the judge ad- 
vocate, while a discussion of a legal question is going on 
as to his testimony, and either party is allowed to take 
exceptions to the competency of a witness, but the ex- 
ceptions must be stated in open court and recorded in 
the proceedings, after which the court will decide on 
their validity. 

All persons who give evidence before a court-martial 
should be examined on oath or affirmation administered 
in the following form : 

" You swear (or affirm) that the evidence you shall 
give in the case now in hearing shall be the truth, the 
whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you 
God." The oaths will be administered to the witnesses 
by the president. 

When a witness has been sworn he will be examined 
in chief by the party calling him, and upon such ex- 
amination leading questions must not be put to him. 



161 

Before a general court-martial all questions to a 
witness must be proposed in writing and recorded bj 
the judge advocate before being propounded to the 
witness, and when recorded they cannot be erased. If 
objected to, the objection must be recorded ; and, after 
hearing any pertinent remarks from the objector and 
from the party putting the question, the court should 
be closed for deliberation with closed doors, its decision 
recorded, and the court reopened, the decision made 
known to the parties, and the trial proceeded with. 

The examination of witnesses must invariably be in 
the presence of each member of the court. The appear- 
ance and manner of a witness add to or take away from 
the weight of his testimony, and all evidence whatever 
should be recorded in the proceedings in the order in 
which it is received by the court. 

When a witness examined in chief shows himself, by 
his manner, to be decidedly adverse to the party calling 
him, it will be in the discretion of the court to allow him 
to be examined as if he were on cross-examination. 

The prosecution having closed the examination of a 
witness, the accused has a right to cross-examine him. 

Leading questions will be allowed on cross-examina- 
tion, in which greater latitude will be given to parties^ 
than in the original examination. The form of cross- 
examination, however, should depend, in some degree^ 
upon the bias and disposition evinced by the witness 
under examination ; and leading questions should not 
be put to a witness clearly in the interest of the party 
cross-examining him. Questions will not be allowed to 
be put as to any distinct collateral fact, for the purpose 



162 

of discrediting the witness by calling other testimony to 
contradict him ; nor should it be assumed that the wit- 
ness has made statements in chief which he has not 
made, nor should questions be put which assume a fact 
not in proof, excepting where the opinion of the wit- 
ness is competent evidence. 

After the accused has closed his cross-examination 
the prosecution may re-examine the witness, but this 
re-examination must be strictly and rigidly confined to 
new matter elicited by the cross-examination, unless by 
special permission of the court. 

If a party examine a witness as to anything which 
may have been said by the adverse party, such adverse 
party shall have the right to call out all that was said 
by him in the same conversation, if it relate to the sub- 
ject matter of the trial. 

The party calling a witness will not be allowed to 
give general evidence that he is not to be beheved under 
oath, but may prove the facts by other witnesses, not- 
ivithstanding the contrary statement of any witness 
whom he may have called. 

Courts-martial should be cautious in receiving evidence 
as to opinion, except where matters of skill and judg- 
ment are involved, then witnesses conversant with a 
particular trade or profession and scientific persons 
may give their opinion on matters of their profession or 
trade. In aU other cases the witness should only speak 
of facts within his own knowledge. 

Documentary evidence, before it can be received, must 
be duly authenticated or proved to be genuine, unless 
admitted to be so. 



A witness may refer to a memorandum in order to 
refresh his memory ; and, if he can then speak to the 
facts from recollection of them, his testimony as to such 
facts should be received. 

A witness cannot be compelled to answer any question 
which has a tendency to expose him to a criminal prose- 
cution. In such case the witness must be allowed to 
judge for himself, and if he says on oath that he cannot 
answer without his evidence tending to criminate him- 
self, he should not be compelled to answer. But if he 
answer, and give criminating evidence against himself, 
he cannot afterward refuse to answer further. 

Military courts will take notice of all laws and pub- 
lished rules and regulations established by the com- 
mander in chief, without the same being otherwise 
proved, and are governed in their proceedings, first, hj 
the written military laws and regulations and — next, by 
the customs of war. 

After all the evidence on the part of the prosecution 
has been produced the accused will enter upon his 
defense. If he desire it, a reasonable delay may, in 
the discretion of the court, be allowed him to arrange 
and prepare his case. In his defense he need not confine 
himself to rebutting the evidence on the part of the 
prosecution ; he may produce in evidence any matter 
whatsoever which tends to exculpate himself or palliate 
his conduct. 

If the accused introduces new matter in his defense 
the prosecution may call witnesses to disprove or rebut 
the same. 

Before any witness leaves the court the record of his 
8 



164 

testimony should be read over to him, so that, if errone-^ 
ous, he may correct or explain the same, but no erasure 
or obliteration will be admitted unless clearly clerical,, 
and remarks or explanation must be entered in the pro- 
ceedings in addition thereto. 

Should the accused, having closed his cross-examina- 
tion, think proper subsequently to recall a witness for 
the prosecution in his defense, the examination will be 
held to be in chief, and the witness subject to cross-ex- 
amination by the prosecution. 

The parties having closed the evidence in the case, the 
accused will have the right to address the court, and to 
recapitulate the evidence and strengthen the case by 
argument, or show the weakness or insufficiency of the 
prosecution. 

This address must appear in the records ; or, if annexed,, 
be signed by the accused. 

The judge advocate, as representing the state, is 
entitled to reply. This must also appear in the record,, 
or be annexed. 

The judge advocate alone conducts the prosecution ; 
an informant is sometimes allowed merely to be present, 
at the judge advocate's request, but he cannot be 
allowed to propose any questions or make any observa- 
tions. He may, however, at the desire of that officer, 
make suggestions to the judge advocate ; and, when 
he is a witness, he must first be examined or else 
excluded from the court until called to testify. 

The judge advocate and the accused having laid their 
case before the court, the accused and the witnesses will 
be dismissed and the court closed. 



165 

The court then proceeds to make up its finding ; each 
specification must be separately considered and each 
allegation exhausted, and the court must declare how 
far each is proved. 

The judge advocate, at this stage of the proceedings, 
will simply act as register and adviser to the court on 
legal points when his opinion is required ; he must 
carefully abstain from making any remark by which his 
judgment, as to the guilt or innocence of the accused, 
could be ascertained. Military tribunals must uphold 
discipline at all hazards ; they will, however, always 
justify the disobedience of an order which is shown to he 
manifestly and clearly illegal, and should administer 
severe sentence to an accused who is proven to have is- 
sued an order contrary to law, but will never inflict dis- 
grace on the subordinate who obeys it, unless it be evi- 
dent that the accused well knew that in conforming to 
it he was violating law. 

In a charge of disobedience of orders it must be 
shown that the communication was an order from a com- 
manding officer to an inferior, in terms sufficiently ex- 
plicit to disclose the intention of such superior that the 
accused should or should not do some certain act, and 
that he failed to obey. 

In a charge of off'ering violence, &c., against a super- 
ior on duty, it should be shown that the accused knew 
the other party to be his superior, either by his uniform, 
knowledge of his person, or in some other manner. 

When there are distinct and separate charges the 
members of the court will deliberate separately on each 
charge and specification, discussing in free and open 



166 

conversation the import of the evidence, and allowing 
its full weight to every argument or presumption in 
favor of the accused. 

The question of the guilt or innocence of the accused 
should be put by the judge advocate to the members of 
the court, commencing with the junior, — '^from the evi- 
dence given for and against the accused, and from what 
he has said in his defense, are you of the opinion that 
he is guilty or not guilty of the charge or specification 
preferred against him ? " 

If the court shall be of opinion that the accused is not 
gailty of the offense charged it must acquit him, and 
the acquittal maj^ be a simple finding of not guilty, or 
the court may acquit him fully. 

If the court finds the accused giiilty of any or all the 
charges, the judge advocate proceeds to take the opinion 
of the members on the punishment to be awarded, by 
putting to each member, beginning with the junior in 
rank, this question : '' The court having found the ac- 
cused guilty of such an offense, in your opinion, what 
punishment ought to be awarded?" Each member of 
the court will present, in writing, the sentence wdiich he 
thinks should be given. When all have been presented 
they will be read to the court by the president, begin- 
ning with that of the junior member. 

If a majority of the members of the court have con- 
curred in the same sentence it will be recorded as the 
sentence of the court ; if not, the mildest of the sentences 
proposed will then be first considered and put to vote, 
and, if not adopted, then the next mildest, and so on 



167 

until one is found which obtains a majority of the 
vote. 

An officer convicted of " drunkenness on duty" should 
be sentenced to be dismissed from the service. 

An officer convicted of the charge of " conduct un- 
becoming an officer and a gentleman" should be sen- 
tenced to be dismissed from the service. 

For other offenses the court may inflict any punish- 
ment not cruel or unusual which seems required by the 
nature of the case tried and authorized by law ; and 
whenever a specific punishment is imposed by law, for 
any offense, the court w^ill be careful to conform to such 
provision. 

The discharge of an officer is another mode of depriv- 
ing him of his military character, but the same idea of 
disgrace does not attach as to a sentence of dismissal. 

Suspension from command leaves an officer in the full 
enjoyment of all rights and eligibiUty depending on 
rank, excepting that he can exercise no military authority 
whatever during the suspension. 

Reprimand, — The court may sentence an officer to be 
publicly reprimanded (which is done in orders), or to be 
privately reprimanded (which is done by the command- 
ing officer, without the presence of witnesses). 

Admonition, — In some instances of trivial faults, courts- 
martial may sentence officers to be admonished, or to 
be privately admonished. 

The sentence of a court-martial cannot, in time of 
peace, extend further than the dismissal or dishonor- 
able discharge of the officer or soldier convicted, and dis- 



168 

qualifying him from holding any office in the mihtia of 
the state. 

The sentence recorded must not give any intimation 
of the vote by which it was pronounced, or how the 
members of the court stood on the question, and should 
avoid all argument or special reasons in its justifica- 
tion. 

The sentence cannot be carried into effect until after 
the proceedings shall have been laid before the officer 
ordering the court-martial, who should approve or dis- 
approve it within fifteen days thereafter. If he disap- 
prove, he may, for good reasons, send back the proceed- 
ings for revision. 

The decision and orders of the reviewing officer must 
be written upon the record at the end of each case, 
although the case is to be forwarded for final action to a 
higher authority ; and, in the case of a commissioned 
officer, must be signed by the reviewing officer and not 
by a staff officer. 

If the revicAving officer disapproves the sentence of a 
court-martial without remanding the record for further 
consideration, the sentence remains inoperative, unless 
he, at the same time, confirms it. 

If the reviewing officer disapproves the sentence as 
inadequate, he has no power to substitute one more ' 
severe. 

The reviewing officer should promptly return for cor- 
rection all records in which fatal defects or omissions 
occur, and, when necessary, should reconvene the court, 
if it has not been dissolved, to make the necessary cor- 
rections before taking final action upon them ; but, if 



169 

ihe court has been already dissolved, or from other 
•cause cannot be reassembled, the sentence will be in- 
operative. 

The reviewing officer has no right to compel a court 
to change a sentence when, upon being reconvened by 
him, it has adhered to its former decision. 

Proper causes for revision are : 

I. When the sentence (being discretionary) is such 
ihat, in the particular circumstances of the case, it can- 
not be executed. 

II. Illegality in the sentence, whether from being 
contrary to law or military usage, or from being found in 
•consequence of the admission of illegal or the rejection 
of legal testimony. 

III. Manifest incongruity between the finding and 
the sentence. 

IV. When the sentence is such that, from motives of 
public or military policy, it is not advisable to have it 
executed. 

The court, on revision, may amend the finding and 
sentence, or either of them, in whole or in part ; or 
correct them in any way to conform to the provisions of 
law or the justice of the case ; or they may substitute 
a new finding or sentence in place of the former ones. 
In case of a new finding or sentence, the officer ordering 
ihe court may send the proceedings back for a second 
xevision. If the court, on the second revision, should ad- 
here to the judgment pronounced by it, the finding and 
sentence must be either approved or disapproved ; if dis- 
approved, the efiect will be to nullify the sentence, but not 
to the extent of exposing the accused to a second trial. 



170 

According to military usage every person convicted 
by a court-martial has a right to appeal to the com- 
mander in chief, but no appeal should be received 
unless made within twenty days after the decision appeal- 
ed from is made known to the person appealing. 

In the hearing of all appeals the officers appealed to 
will include in their examination and decision all chal- 
lenges of members of the court made on the part of the 
accused ; and if, on the final appeal, the officer appealed 
to sets aside the proceedings of the court for errors in 
disallowing such challenges, the trial and decision of the 
court is not a bar to another trial by a court-martial 
legally constituted. 

The officer hearing an appeal from a decision of a 
court-martial should in all cases determine it according 
to the law and justice of the case, without regarding 
formal or technical omissions, or any errors or defects 
in the proceedings before the_ court which could not 
affect the merits. 

An appeal suspends the execution of the sentence 
until the final decision of the appeal, the accused mean- 
while remaining in arrest. The adjutant-general should 
immediately notify the officer ordering a court of any 
appeal to the commander in chief from the proceedings 
and sentence of each court. 

Whenever an appeal shall be taken from the sentence 
of a court-martial to the officer ordering the court, it 
must be made in writing and specify distinctly the 
several grounds of appeal ; and a copy of such appeal 
should be served without delay by the appellant upon 



171 

the president of the court-martial whose sentence is ap- 
pealed from. 

The officer to whom an appeal may be made from the 
sentence of a court-martial shall, without delay and by 
order, fix a time and place when and where the appeal 
will be heard, and cause a copy of his order to be served? 
at least ten days before the time of such hearing, upon 
the appellant and the president of such court. 

Every court-martial should keep a complete and ac- 
curate record of its proceedings. The record must be 
clearly and legibly written, as far as practicable, without 
erasures or interlineations ; the pages to be numbered, 
with a margin of one inch on the left hand side of each 
page, and at the top of the odd and bottom of the inner 
pages ; through the last margin the sheets will be fast- 
ened together. The documents accompanying the pro- 
ceedings should be noted and marked in such a manner 
as to afford an easy reference. The record should show 
that the court was organized as the law requires, that 
the court and judge advocate were duly sworn in the 
presence of the prisoner ; that he was previously asked 
whether he had any objections to any member, and his 
answer thereto. 

A copy of the order appointing the court will be 
entered on the record in each case. 

The record must exhibit the whole action of the court 
upon all points on which the validity of the trial may 
depend, as the admission of counsel for the accused, or, 
if this was refused, on what grounds ; the challenge of a 
member, whether sustained, and whether the member 
was placed on his^honor ; the fact that the prisoner was 
8^ 



172 

asked if he desired to question tlie witness in defense, 
and his reply, etc. 

After the adjournment of a court-martial, at the close 
of the business of each day, and before the next meeting 
of the court, the judge advocate shall have a fair copy 
of the proceedings made, which he shall continue thus 
regularly until the conclusion of the trial, when the 
whole will be read over by him to the court, before the 
members proceed to deliberate and form their opinions. 

When the record is duly authenticated by the signa- 
tures of the president and judge advocate, he will trans- 
mit it without delay to the officer ordering the court. 

After the record of the proceedings in a military court 
is once made up it cannot in any manner be altered ; 
but additions may be made to it. In conformity to this 
rule the original finding and sentence of a court-martial 
cannot, on revision, be expunged. The revised finding 
and sentence should merely be added to the original 
record. 

The proceedings and sentence of every court-martial 
should, without delay, be delivered to the officer order- 
ing the court, who will approve or disapprove thereof 
within fifteen days thereafter, and publish the sentence 
as approved or disapproved in orders. 

BEOIMENTAL COUKTS-MAETIAL. 

The field officer constituting the regimental court is 
its president, and as such has the power to administer 
the usual oaths and issue the necessary summonses to 
the accused and to all witnesses. 

The field officer need not be specially sworn before 



173 

entering upon his duties as a court ; the law imposes 
this duty upon him as an officer of the mihtia, and he 
discharges it under the obHgations of his military oath. 
The whole duty of the court is performed by him, as no 
separate officer, as judge advocate or recorder, is pro- 
vided for or required. The field officer, therefore, pre- 
pares his own records. 

The proceedings of the field officer are necessarily 
summary. He will, therefore, make a brief and distinct 
record, setting forth the orders detailing him as a court, 
the names of offenders, the offenses with which they are 
charged, the time and place of commission, the pleas, 
the findings, and the sentences imposed. The record 
should show that the accused was present before the 
court, or, in case of his absence, that he was duly sum- 
moned, a copy of the summons being entered on the 
record, and that the charges were investigated. When 
the accused is absent the trial shall proceed as if he were 
present and pleaded not guilty. The testimony, except 
under very peculiar circumstances, need not be recited, 
nor is it necessary to set forth that the accused had an 
opportunity to offer evidence or make a statement. 

The record in each case should be made up separately, 
and that of each day's proceedings should be authen- 
ticated by the signature of the field officer. 

In reviewing the proceedings of a regimental court- 
martial, the regularity of the proceedings and the ade- 
quacy of the punishment to the offense of which the 
party has been found guilty, are the only questions on 
which the reviewing officer can pass a judgment. 

The principles laid down regarding general courts- 



174 

martial apply, as far as practicable, to regimental courts- 
martial. 

COURTS OF INQUIRY. 

Courts of inquiry may be instituted by the command- 
er in chief for the purpose of investigating the conduct 
of any officer, either by his own solicitation or on a 
complaint or charge of improper conduct degrading to 
the character of an officer. Such a court should not 
consist of more than three officers, who may, with the 
approval of the commander in chief, require a judge ad-^ 
vocate to attend the court in taking testimony and in- 
vestigating the matter coming before it. 

The court of inquiry will, without delay, report the 
evidence adduced, a statement of facts, and an opinion 
thereon, when required, to the commander in chief, who 
may, in his discretion, order a court-martial for the trial 
of the officer whose conduct has been inquired into, or 
discharge him. 

A court of inquiry differs from a court-martial in that 
it is not sworn to secrecy, is not limited to certain hours^ 
and cannot have more than three members, although it 
may have less. 

When an officer or soldier thinks himself injured by 
reports or scandals derogatory to his character or 
standing, he may apply to the commander in chief,, 
through the proper military channels, for a court of in- 
quiry to investigate the facts. 

The order convening a court of inquiry must state 
whether the court is to report facts or not, also if it is 
to give an opinion. It may be ordered to report the 



175 

facts with or without an opinion. Facts mean not the 
testimony merely, but the conclusions gathered from 
weighing all the testimony. The court should also be 
instructed as to whether its attention is to be extended 
to a general inyestigation or confined to the examina- 
tion of such particular points only as the case may seem 
to require in the judgment of the commander in chief. 
Where the subject is multifarious the court should be in- 
structed to state its opinion on each point separately, that 
the proper authority may be able to form his judgment. 

A court of inquiry may, at its own option, sit with 
open or closed doors, according to the nature of the 
transaction to be investigated. 

The form of proceedings in courts of inquiry is, as far 
as practicable, the same as in courts-martial. The mem- 
bers being assembled and the parties interested called 
into court J the recorder, or the judge advocate, if there 
be one, reads the order by which the court is constitut- 
ed, and administers to the members the following oath : 

" You shall well and truly examine and inquire, ac- 
cording to evidence, into the matter now before you, 
without partiality, favor, affection, prejudice or hope 
of reward. So help you God." 

The accusation or complaint is then read, and the wit- 
nesses sworn by the judge advocate or recorder, and 
examined by the court. The parties accused are permit- 
ted to cross-examine and interrogate witnesses, in order 
to investigate fully the circumstances in question. 

A court of inquiry is not confined to the rules of evi~ 
dence governing courts-maitial, but may allow greater 
latitude in the evidence offered. 



176 

When the examination of witnesses is finished the 
parties address the court, should they so deshe, after 
which the president orders the court to be cleared. The 
recorder then reads over the whole of the proceedings, 
as well for the purpose of correcting the record as for 
aiding the memory of the court. 

After mature deliberation on the evidence adduced 
they proceed to find a state of facts, if so directed by 
the order constituting the court, and to declare whether 
or not the grounds of accusation are sufficient to bring 
the matter before a court-martial, and also to give, if re- 
quired, their opinion of the merits of the case. 

The proceedings must be authenticated by the signa- 
tures of the president and recorder, and sent to the 
commander in chief through the adjutant-general. The 
proceedings may be admitted in evidence by a court- 
martial if oral testimony cannot be obtained. 

It is not necessary to publish the proceedings or opin- 
ion of the court (although it is usually done) in general 
orders. 

The court is dissolved by the authority that convened 
it. A member of a court of inquiry may be objected to 
for sufficient cause. 

The party concerned cannot, as a matter of right, de- 
mand a copy of the record of a court of inquiry. 

The finding or opinion of a court of inquiry is not an 
adjudication, but simply a report. It is not a convic- 
tion or acquittal to be pleaded in bar of trial by court- 
martial. 



177 

CEREMONIES. 



HONOES PAIC BY THE TEOOPS— EEVIEAVS 
AND INSPECTIONS. 



HONORS TO BE PAID BY THE TROOPS. 

Whenever a person entitled to compliments from the 
troops, visits any camp or military posfc, and the com- 
manding officer has official notice of his presence, the 
troops are paraded to salute him. 

The president or vice-president of the United States 
and the governor of the state to which the troops be- 
long are to be saluted with the highest honors, all stand- 
ards and colors drooping, officers and troops saluting, 
drums beating and trumpets sounding, 

A general commanding in chief is to be received by 
cavalrj^ with sabres presented, trumpets sounding the 
march, and all the officers saluting, standards drooping ; 
by infantry, with drums beating the march, colors droop- 
ing, officers saluting and arms presented. 

A major-general is to be received by cavalry with 
sabres presented, trumpets sounding twice the trumpet 
flourish, and officers saluting ; by infantry, with three 
ruffles, colors drooping, officers saluting and arms pre- 
sented. 

A brigadier-general is to be received by cavalry with 
sabres presented, trumpets sounding once the trumpet 
flourish, and officers saluting ; by infantry, with two ruf- 
fles, colors drooping, officers saluting and arms presented. 



178 

An adjutant-general or inspector-general, if under the 
rank of a general officer, is to be received at a review or 
inspection of the troops under arms, by cavalry, with 
sabres presented, officers saluting ; by infantry, officers 
saluting and arms presented. The same honors to be 
paid to any field officer authorized to review and inspect 
the troops. When the inspecting officer is junior to the 
officer commanding the parade no compliments will be 
paid ; he will be received only with swords drawn and 
arms at a carry. 

All guards are to turn out and present arms to gene- 
ral officers as often as they pass them, except the per- 
sonal guards of general officers, which turn out only to 
the generals whose guards they are, and to officers of 
superior rank. 

To commanders of regiments, garrison or camp, their 
o^n guards turn out and present arms once a day, after 
which they turn out with arms at a carry. To the mem- 
bers of the cabinet, to the chief justice, the president of 
the senate, and speaker of the house of representatives of 
the United States, and to governors within their respec- 
tive states and territories, the same honors will be paid 
as to a general commanding in chief. 

Officers of any foreign service may be complimented 
with the honors due to their rank. 

American and foreign envoys or ministers will be re- 
ceived with the comphments due to a major-general. 

The colors of a regiment passing a guard are to be 
saluted, the trumpets or field music sounding, and the 
drums beating a march. 

When general officers or persons entitled to salute 



179 

pass in the rear of a guard, the officer is only to make 
his men stand with arms at a carry, and not to face his 
guard about or beat his drum. 

When general officers or persons entitled to a salute 
pass guards while in the act of relieving, both guards to 
salute, receiving the word of command from the senior 
officer of the whole. 

All guards are to be under arms when armed parties 
approach their posts, and to parties commanded by 
commissioned officers, they are to present their arms, 
drums beating a march and officers saluting. 

No compliments by guards or sentinals will be paid 
between retreat and reveille, except as prescribed for 
grand rounds. 

ESCOETS or HONOK. 

Escorts of honor may be composed of cavalry or 
infantry, or both, according to circumstances. They are 
guards of honor for the purpose of receiving and escort- 
ing personages of high rank, civil or military. The 
troops for this purpose will be selected for their soldierly 
appearance and superior discipUne. 

The escort will be drawn upon line, the centre op- 
posite to the place where the personage presents hiipself, 
with an interval between the wings to receive him and 
his retinue. On his appearance he will be received with 
the honors due to his rank. When he has taken his 
place in the line the whole will be formed into column of 
companies, platoons or fours, as the case may be, and 
take up the march. The same ceremony will be observed 
and the same honors paid on his leaving the escort. 



180 

When tlie position of the escort is at a considerable 
distance from the point where the personage is expected 
to be received, as, for instance, where a courtyard or 
wharf intervenes, a double line of sentinels will be posted 
from that point to the escort, facing inward, and the 
sentinels will successively salute as he passes. 

An officer will be appointed to attend on him to bear 
such communications as he may have to make to the 
commander of the escort. 

AETILLEKY SALUTES. 

The President of the United States is alone entitled 
to receive a salute of twenty-one guns. The Vice-Presi- 
dent nineteen guns. The Governor of States and the 
General of the U. S. Army shall receive a salute of seven- 
teen guns. 

The heads of the great Executive departments of the 
National Government, seventeen guns. The Lieutenant- 
Governor of the State to w^hich the troops belong, the 
Governors of other States and Territories fifteen guns. 

The Lieutenant-General, fifteen guns. 

A Major-General, thirteen guns. 

A Brigadier-General, eleven guns. 

Officers of the Navy will be saluted according to rela- 
tive rank. 

Foreign officers invited to visit a Post may be saluted 
;according to their relative rank. 

Envoys and Ministers of the United States and foreign 
powers will be saluted with thirteen guns. 

A general officer will be saluted but once in a year at 



181 

each post, and only when notice of his intention to visit 
the post has been given. 

Salutes to individuals are to be fired on their arrival 
only. 

A national salute will be fifed at meridian on the an- 
niversary of the Independence of the United States, at 
each military post and camp provided with artillery and 
ammunition. 

FUNEEAL HONOES. 

At the funeral of an officer as many in commission of 
the militia, division, brigade, or regiment, according to 
the rank of the deceased, as can conveniently be spared 
from other duties, wiU join in procession, in uniform and 
with side arms. The funeral of a non-commissioned 
officer or private will be attended in hke manner by 
the non-commissioned officers or privates of the regi- 
ment or company, according to the rank of the de- 
ceased, with side arms only. 

Persons joining in the procession follow the coffin in 
the inverse order of their rank. 

The usual badge of military mourning is a piece of 
black crape around the left arm above the elbow, and 
also upon the sword hilt, and will be worn when in •full 
or in undress. 

As family mourning, crape will be worn by officers 
{when in uniform) only around the left arm. 

The drums of a funeral escort will be covered with 
black crape or thin black serge. 

Funeral honors will be paid to deceased officers with- 
out military rank, according to their assimilated grades. 



182 

An officer's funeral escort, when practicable, should 
be commanded by an officer of equal grade. 

INSPECTIONS OF THE TKOOPS. 

The inspection of troops, as a division, regiment, or 
other body composing garrison or command, not less 
than a company, will generally be preceded by a re- 
view. 

REVIEW OF A BATTALION OF INFANTRY. 

Preparatory to a review the adjutant will cause a 
camp color to be placed eighty or one hundred paces, or 
more, according to the length of the line, in front of and 
opposite to where the centre of the battalion will rest, 
where the reviewing officer is supposed to take his sta- 
tion ; and although he may choose to quit that position, 
still the color is to be considered as the point to which 
all the movements and formations are relative. 

The adjutant will also cause points to be marked at 
suitable distances for the wheelings of the divisions, so 
that their right flanks in marching past shall only be about 
six or eight yards from the camp color, where it is sup- 
posed the reviewing officer places himself to receive the 
salute. 

When the reviewing officer presents himself before 
the centre, and is fifty or sixty paces distant, the colonel 
will face about, command 

Present Anns, 

resume his front and salute. The men present arms 
and the officers salute, so as to drop their swords with 



w 



183 



tlie last motion of the piece. The non-commissioned 
staff salute by bringing the sword to a poise, the hilt 
resting on the breast, the blade in front of the face, in- 
clining a little outward. The music Avill play and all 
the drums beat, according to the rank of the reyiewing 
officer. The colors only salute such persons as from 
their rank and by regulation are entitled to that honor. 
If the reviewing officer be junior in rank to the com- 
mandant of the parade no compliment will be paid to 
him, but he will be received with arms carried, and the 
officers wdll not salute as the column passes in review. 

The reviewing officer having halted and acknowledged 
the salute of the line by touching or raising his cap or 
hat, the colonel will face about and command 

Carry Arms, 
when the men bring their pieces to a carry . The offi- 
cers and non-commissioned staff recover their swords 
with the last motion, and the colonel faces to the front. 

The reviewing officer, joined by the colonel or com- 
manding officer, will then go towards the right, the whole 
remaining perfectly steady, without paymg any further 
compliment, while he passes along the front of the bat- 
talion and proceeds around the left flank, and along the 
rear of the file-closers, to the right. While the review- 
ing officer is going roimd the battalion the band will 
play, and will cease when he has returned to the right 
flank of the troops. 

When the reviewing officer turns off, to place himself 
by the camp color in front, the colonel will face to the 
line, and command 

Close Order — March. 



184 

At the command, march, the field and company offi- 
cers will face about, and all persons, except the colonel, 
will resume their places in line ; the field and the staff 
officers mount. 

The reviewing officer having taken his position near 
the camp-color, the battalion, in column of companies, 
right in front, will then, in quick time, and at a carry 
arms, be put in motion according to the tactics. The 
guides and soldiers will keep their heads steady to the 
front in passing in review. 

The color-bearer will remain in the ranks while pass-^ 
ing and saluting. 

The music will begin to play at the command to 
march, and, after passing the reviewing officer, wheel to 
the left out of the column and take a position opposite 
and facing him, and will continue to play until the rear 
of the column shall have passed him, when it will cease 
and follow in the rear of the battalion, unless the bat- 
talion is to pass in double time also, in which case it 
will keep its position. 

The officers will salute the reviewing officer when they 
arrive within six paces of him, and recover their swords 
when six paces past him. All officers, in saluting, will 
cast their eyes toward the receiving officer. 

The colonel, when he has saluted at the head of the 
battalion, will place himself near and on the right of 
the reviewing officer, and will remain there until the 
rear has passed, when he will rejoin the battalion. 

The colors will salute the reviewing officer, if entitled 
to it, when within six paces of him, and be raised when 
they have passed by him an equal distance. The 



185 

trumpeter or field music will sound a march and flourish 
or ruffle, according to the rank of the reviewing officer, 
at the same time that the colors salute. 

When the column has passed the reviewing officer 
the colonel will direct it to the ground from which it 
marched, wheel it in line to the left, and cause the ranks 
to be opened. The review will terminate by the whole 
saluting as at the beginning. In marching past the re- 
viewing officer again in double time the instructions in 
the tactics are sufficiently explicit. 

"When two or more battalions are to be reviewed 
they will be formed in parade order with the proper 
intervals, and will also perform the same movements 
that are laid down for a single battalion, observing the 
additional directions that are given for such movements 
when applied to the line. The brigadier-general and 
his staff, on foot, will place themselves opposite the 
centre of the brigade ; the brigadier-general two paces 
in front of the rank of colonels ; his aid two paces on 
his right and one retired ; and the other brigade 
staff officers, those having the rank of field officers, in 
the rank of lieutenant-colonels and majors ; and those 
below that rank in the rank of company officers. 

In passing in review a major-general will be four 
paces in front of the colonel of the leading battalion 
of his division, and the brigadier-general will be on the 
right of the colonels of the leading battalions of their 
brigades, staff officers on the left of their generals. 

When the line exceeds two battalions the reviewing 
officer may cause them to march past in double time only. 
In such cases the mounted officers only will salute. 



186 

A number of companies less than a battalion will be 
reviewed as a battalion, and a single company as if it 
were with the battalion. In the latter case the com- 
pany may pass in column of platoons. 

If several brigades are to be review^ed together or in 
•one line this further difference will be observed : the 
reviewing personage, joined by the general of the divis- 
ion on the right of his division, will proceed down the 
line parallel to its front, and when near the brigadier- 
generals respectively, wall be saluted by their brigades 
in succession. The music of each, after the prescribed 
salute, will play while the reviemng personage is in 
front or in rear of it, and only then. 

In marching in review with several battalions in 
quick time the music of each succeeding battalion will 
commence to play when the music of the preceding one 
has ceased, in order to follow^ its battahon. When 
marching in double time the music will begin to play 
when the rear company of the preceding battalion has 
passed the reviewing officer. 

The reviewing officer or personage will acknowledge 
the salute by raising or taking off his cap or hat, when 
the commander of the troops salute him, and also when 
the colors pass. The remainder of the time occupied by 
the passage of the troops he will be covered. 

FOKM OF INSPECTION OF INFANTEY. 

The following form for the inspection of infantry will 
be followed : The inspecting officer and the field and 
staff officers will be on foot. 

The battalion being in the order of battle the colonel 



187 

will cause it to break into open column of companies 
right in front. He will next order the ranks to be 
opened, when the colors and color-guard, under the 
direction of the adjutant, will take post twelve paces in 
front of the centre of the leading subdivision of column. 
The colonel seeing the ranks ahgned will command : 
Pield and staff officers to the front — march. 

The commissioned officers thus designated will form 
themselves in one rank on a line equal to the front of 
the column, six paces in front of the colors, from right 
to left, in the order of seniority, and the non-commis- 
sioned staff in a similar manner three paces in rear of 
preceding rank. The colonel, seeing the movement ex- 
ecuted, will take post on right of the lieutenant-colonel 
and wait the approach of the inspecting officer. Such 
of the field officers as may be superior in rank to the in- 
spector will not take post in front of the battahon. 

The inspector will commence in front. After inspect- 
ing the dress and general appearance of the field and 
commissioned staff under arms, the inspector, accompa- 
nied by these officers, will pass down the open column, 
looking at every rank in front and rear. 

The colonel will now command : 

Order Arms — In Place Best, 

when the inspector will proceed to make a minute in- 
spection of the several ranks or divisions, in succession, 
commencing in front. 

As the inspector approaches the non-commissioned 
staff, the color-guard and the band, the adjutant will 
give the necessary orders for the inspection of arms, 

9 



188 

boxes and knapsacks. The colors will be planted firm 
in the ground, or furled and rested on the stacked arms 
of the color-guard, to enable the color-bearers to display 
the contents of their knapsacks. The non-commissioned 
staff may be dismissed as soon as inspected, but the color- 
guard will remain until the colors are to be escorted to 
the place from which they were taken. 

As the inspector successively approaches the compan- 
ies, the captains will call the companies to attention 
and prepare them for inspection. 

The inspecting officer will go through the whole com- 
pany and minutely inspect the arms, accoutrements, and 
dress of each soldier. After this is done the ammuni- 
tion and the boxes will be examined. At the proper 
command the knapsacks will be placed at the feet of 
the men, the flaps from them, with the great coats on 
the flaps and the knapsacks leaning on the great coats. 
In this position the inspector will examine their con- 
tents, or so many of them as he may think necessary,, 
the men standing at attention. 

When the inspector has passed through the company, 
at the command : 

Bepack — Knapsacks, 

each soldier will repack and buckle up his knapsack, 
leaving it on the ground, the number upward, turned 
from him, and then stand at rest. 
The captain will then command : 

Company — Attention — Sling — Knapsacks. 



189 

At the word sling, each soldier will take his knapsack, 
holding it by the inner strap, and stand erect ; at the 
last word he will replace it on his back. 

The captains may then march off their companies to 
their respective parade grounds or quarters and there 
dismiss them, except the company that is to re-escort 
the colors, which will await the further orders of the 
colonel. *' 

In an extensive column some of the rearmost com- 
panies may, after the inspection of dress and general 
appearance, be permitted to stack arms until just before 
the inspector approaches them, when they will be di- 
rected to take arms and resume their position. 

The inspection of the troops being ended, the field 
and staff will next accompany the inspector to the hos- 
pital, magazine, arsenal, guard-house, and such other 
places as he may think proper to inspect. The captains 
and subalterns repair to their companies and sections to 
await the inspector. 

The inspector, attended by the company officers, will 
examine the general arrangement of the interior of the 
quarters, the bunks, bedding, cooking, and table uten- 
sils, and such other objects as may present themselves, 
and afterwards the exterior. 

The adjutant will exhibit to the inspector the regimen- 
tal books and papers, including those relating to the 
transactions of the council of administration. The com- 
pany books and papers will also be exhibited, the whole 
together generally, at the adjutant's office, and in the 
presence of the officers not otherwise particularly en- 
gaged. 



190 

The inspector will examine, critically, the books and 
accounts of the administrative and disbursing officers of 
the command, and the money and property in their 
keeping. 

FOKMS OF PAEADE. 

On all parades of ceremony, such as reviews, guard 
mounting, at troop or retreat parades, instead of the word 
rest, which allows the men to move or change the posi- 
tion of the bodies, the command will be parade rest. 

Officers on all duties under arms, are to have their 
swords drawn without waiting for any words of com- 
mand for that purpose. 

REVIEW OF A BATTERY OF ARTILLERY. 

The battery being in line, with the trumpeters on the 
right, the captain commands : 

Battery — Attention — Prepare for Beview — Bear Open 
Order — March — Front, 

At the third command the chief of the line of caissons 
commands — caissons, left, reverse, and places himself on 
the right flank, sixteen yards in rear of the line of 
pieces, facing to the left, to mark the point where the 
right of the line of caissons is to rest. In horse ar- 
tillery the distance is twenty yards. 

At the same command the gunners face the detach- 
ments to the rear ; in foot artillery, by the command 
about— fax^e ; and in horse artillery they command hack- 
ward. 

At the command — march, repeated by the chief of the 



191 

line of caissons, the caissons reverse to tlie left, move to 
the rear, reverse again to the left, and align themselves 
by appropriate commands from the chief of the line of 
caissons. As soon as the ground is nnmasked the gun- 
ners repeat the command — march, at which the cannon- 
eers in foot artillery march forward, and are formed six 
yards in the rear of their pieces, the chiefs of caissons 
joining their detachments at the same time. In horse 
artillery the cannoneers rein back and are halted by the 
gunners at the same distance. 

The battery is aligned, the pieces and attachments 
by the captain, and the caissons by the chief of the line 
of caissons. At the sixth command, given by the cap- 
tain when the alignment is completed, the chief of the 
line of caissons takes his post as in line. The captain 
then commands : 

Draw Sabres. 

This is executed by the officers, non-commissioned 
officers, and detachments only, and the captain takes 
his post as in line. In the proper order, and according 
to tactics, the battery awaits the approach of the review- 
ing officer. When he is midway between the camp 
color and the captain the latter turns his horse to the 
left about and commands : 

Present Sabres. 

He immediately resumes his front and salutes. The 
officers, non-commissioned officers and detachments all 
salute as in cavalry, and the music plays according to 
the rank of the reviewing officer. 

The reviewing officer having halted and acknowledged 



192 

the salute, the captain brings his sword to a carry, turns 
about to the hne as before and commands : 

Carry Sabres. 

He immediately resumes his front, the reviewing offi- 
cer turns off to the right of the battery, passes along 
its front, and returns to the right by passing between 
the lines of carriages or in rear of caissons. While the 
reviewing officer is passing around the battery the music 
plays ; it ceases when he turns off to take his post at the 
camp color. When the music ceases the captain turns 
about and commands : 

Beturn Sabres — Close Order — 3Iarch. 

In horse artillery the first and second commands are 
not given. At the fourth command the gunners, in foot 
artillery, command left face, and in horse artillery— /or- 
ward. 

At the command march, repeated by the gunners, the 
cannoneers in mounted artillery, take their posts as pre- 
scribed in the school piece. The caissons, and in horse 
artillery the cannoneers, close to their proper distances 
in line. 

The reviewing officer having taken a position near the 
camp color, the captain causes the cannoneers to mount, 
if in foot artillery, and breaks the battery into column 
of platoon to the right by the usual command. He 
then commands 

Pass in Review, 

and puts the column in march, at a walk, with the 
guide to the right. The captain then places himseK at 
the head of the column, four yards in advance of the 



193 

•chief of the leading platoon. The trumpeters march 
four yards in advance of the captain, and the chief of 
the line of caissons outside the column opposite the 
centre, and four yards from the left jSank. 

When the head of the column has arrived within forty 
yards of the reviewing oJEEcer the music begins to play, 
and as soon as the latter has passed it wheels out of the 
column to a position in front of the reviewing officer, 
where it faces him, and continues to play until the col- 
umn has passed. It then ceases, follows in rear of the 
battery, and resumes its place at the head of the columns 
after the next change of direction. 

All the officers salute in succession as they arrive with- 
in six yards of the reviewing officer, casting their eyes 
toward him at the same time and bringing their swords 
to a carry after having passed him six yards. As soon 
as the captain has saluted he places himself near the 
reviewing officer, remains until the rear has passed, and 
then rejoins his battery. 

The column is so conducted as to march parallel to 
the line on which the battery is to form, and far enough 
in its rear to enable the column to wheel into line. It 
is then wheeled into line, the ranks opened, and the re- 
view terminated by a salute as at the beginning. 

When instructions have been previously given to pass 
a second time, either at a trot or gallop, it will be 
done before wheeling into line, the officers passing the 
second time without salute. 

When artillery has been passing in review with other 
troops, and is marching in prolongation of the line on 
which the different corps are to form, it may be wheeled 



194 

by sections to the right, and, after gaining the necessary 
distance, counter-marched and estabhshed on the line. 

Wlien a battery is to march past in line or in column 
of half batteries, it will be done according to the princi- 
ples already described. In line, the officers will be at 
their usual posts ; in column of half batteries, the cap- 
tain will be two yards in advance of the chief of the 
leading half battery ; each chief of half battery two 
yards in front of the centre of his command ; the chief 
of the centre section on the left of the leading half bat- 
tery, four yards from the leading driver ; and the chief 
of the line of caissons in the same position with respect 
to the rear half battery. 

METHOD or ESCOKTING AND EECEIVING THE COLOK OF AN 
INFANTRY REGIMENT. 

Wlien the regiment turns out under arms and the 
color is wanted, one of the flank companies in its tour, 
or if both be absent, a battalion company other than 
that of the color, will be sent to receive and escort the 
color. 

The march will be in the following order, in quick 
time and without music : the drum-major and field mu- 
sic followed by the band; the escort in column of 
platoons, right in front, with arms at the right shoulder 
and the color-bearer between the platoons. 

Arrived in front of the tent or quarters of the colonel, 
the escort will form line, the field music and band on 
the right, and arms will be carried. 

The moment the escort is in line the color-bearer,, 



195. 

preceded by the first-lieutenant and followed by a ser- 
geant of the escort, will go to receive the color. 

When the color-bearer shall come out, followed by the 
heutenant and sergeant, he will halt before the entrance ; 
the escort will present arms and the drums will beat to 
the color. 

After some twenty seconds the captain will cause the 
beat to cease, arms to be carried, and then break by 
platoon into column ; the color-bearer will place him- 
self between the platoons and the lieutenant and ser- 
geant will resume their posts. 

The escort will march back to the battalion to the 
sound of music in quick time, and in the same order as 
above. 

Arrived at the distance of fifty paces from the centre 
of the battalion the escort will halt and the music 
cease ; the colonel will place himself six paces be- 
fore the centre of the battalion ; the color-bearer will 
approach the colonel by the front in quick time ; when 
at the distance of ten paces he will halt ; the colonel 
will cause arms to be presented and to the color to be 
played, which, being executed, the color-bearer will take 
his place in the front rank of the color-guard, and the 
battahon will be brought to a carry arms. 

The escort, field music and band will return in quick 
time to their several places in line of battle, marching 
by the rear of the battalion. 

The color will be escorted back to the colonel's tent 
or quarters by the color-guard. 



196 

EECEPTION OF ONE BODY OF TROOPS BY ANOTHER. 

The commanding officer of the receiving corps having 
notified the commander of the other body of his inten- 
tion, brings his command into line, so that it shall be 
on the right of the route which it is intended the other 
shall take. 

The commander of the body receiving the comphment 
should have his command in column right in front, and 
when he sees the other body in line, or receives an inti- 
mation from its commanding officer that he is ready to 
receive him, he puts his column in motion ; w^hen its 
head is within six paces of the left of the line on its 
right, the latter will be brought to a present, and will 
continue in that position until the rear of the column 
has passed the right of the line. The column passes 
with arms at a carry, each officer saluting as soon as he 
comes within six paces of the left of the line. When 
the rear of the column has passed some twenty-five or 
thirty paces beyond the right of the line, the column is 
brought into line on the same side with the first line. 
As soon as this is done the first line breaks into column 
right in front and marches past the second, receiving 
the same compUments that it extended when the other 
body passed. After marching past it may be formed 
into line again as it was at first, when both commands 
may be brought to an order, the officers advancing and 
being presented, or the column may halt long enough 
to allow the other command, now in line, to re-form col- 
umn, when both take up the march, the leading column 
serving as an escort for the other. 



197 

MUSTERS. 

Musters of Yolnnteers and militia should be made at 
least once a year by the brigade inspectors. 

Where troops are in actual service musters are made 
every two months, usually on the last day of every 
second month ; in this case they are made by an inspec- 
tor-general, if present, otherwise by an officer specially 
designated by the commander of the division or brigade, 
and in the absence of the inspector-general or an officer 
specially designated, the muster is made by the local 
commander. 

When one inspecting officer cannot inspect all the 
troops himself on the day specified, the proper command- 
ing officers will designate such other competent officers 
as may be necessary to assist him. All stated musters 
of the troops should be preceded by a minute and care- 
ful inspection in the prescribed mode, and if the com- 
mand be more than a company, by a review before in- 
spection. 

THE ROSTER OR DETAILS FOR SERVICE. 

The duties performed by detail are of four classes : 
the first class comprises, first, grand guards and out- 
posts ; second, interior guards, as of magazine, hospi- 
tal, etc. ; third, orderhes ; fourth, police guards. 

The second class comprises : first, detachments to pro- 
tect labor on military works, as field works, communica- 
tions, etc. ; second, working parties on such works ; 
third, detachments to protect fatigues. 

The third class are all fatigues, without arms, in or out 



198 

of camp ; in the cavalry, stable guards form a separate 
roster and count before fatigue. 

Rosters are distinct for each class ; officers are named 
on them in the order of rank. The details are taken in 
succession in the order of the roster, beginning at the 
head. Lieutenants form one roster ; the first and second 
lieutenants are entered on it alternately. The senior 
first-lieutenant is the first on the roster; the senior 
second-lieutenanant is the second, etc. The captams 
form one roster, and are exempt ffom fatigue, except to 
superintend issues. A captain commanding a battahon 
temporarily is exempt from detail, and duty falling to 
him passes. Lieutenant-colonels and majors are on one 
roster ; they may be detailed for duties of the first and 
second classes when the importance of the guards and 
detachments requires it ; their roster is kept at division 
and brigade headquarters ; the rosters of the captains 
and lieutenants are kept at regimental headquarters, and 
those of the companies by the first sergeant. In the 
company sergeants, corporals and privates form distinct 
rosters. 

Officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers take 
duties of the first class in the order stated ; the first for 
the detail takes the grand guards ; the next the interior 
guards ; the last the police guard ; and the same rule in 
regard to the details and duties of the second class. In 
the details for the thii'd class the senior officer takes 
the largest party. The party first for detail takes the 
service out of camp. 

When the officer whose tour it is, is not able to take 
it, or is not present at the hour of marching, the next 



199 

after him takes it. When a guard has passed the chain 
of sentinels, or an interior guard has reached its post^, 
the officer whose tour it was cannot then take it, but 
takes the tour of the officer who has taken his. When 
an officer is prevented by sickness from taking his tour 
it passes. These rules apply equally to non-commis- 
sioned officers and soldiers. 

Duties of the first and second class are credited on 
the roster when the guards or detachments have passed 
the chain of sentinels, or an interior guard has reached 
its post ; fatigue duties are credited when the parties 
have passed the chain or begun the duties in camp. 

Every officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier 
on duty of the first class, or who is of the next detail for 
such duty, takes, when relieved, the duty of the second 
or third class that has fallen to him during that time, 
unless he has been on detached service for more than 
twenty-four hours. 

Soldiers march with knapsacks on all duties of 
the first class, and with arms and equipments complete 
on all working parties out of camp, unless otherwise or- 
dered. 

Every non-commissioned officer and soldier in the 
cavalry, detailed for dismounted service, must, before he 
marches, take to the first sergeant of his troop, or ser- 
geant of his squad, his horse equipments and valise 
ready packed. In case of alarm the first sergeant 
sees that the horses of these men are equipped and led 
to the rendezvous. 

In the field artillery men are not called upon for any 
duty outside their own batteries or camps. 



200 



THE USE OF MILITIA IN AID OF CIVIL 
POWEE. 



(A great part of this article, together with that on 
€Ourts-niartial, is a condensation from the admirable 
^' Regulations for the use of the Militia " of the State of 
Massachusetts. The author also desires to acknowl- 
edge his special obligations to General Emory Upton, 
U. S. A., for valuable hints and suggestions as to this 
portion of the work.) 

While the action of troops against a foreign enemy, 
as in case of invasion, would be controlled by the com- 
mander in chief, as a military officer, or through powers 
delegated by him as such to subordinate commanders, 
it will be observed that in all cases where the necessity 
for the employment of troops arises from the actions of 
ill-disposed persons over whom the civil authorities 
ordinarily have control, the commander in chief, as a 
civil officer, or the civil authorities have alone the power 
to call for troops. 

Any civil officer is vested with authority to call upon 
the militia commander for the services of the troops 
under his command, whenever, in his judgment, the pub- 
he interests may require such a measure, and it is the 
absolute duty of the military officer to whom such requi- 
sition is addressed, whoever and whatever he may be, 
to immediately comply with the same. It is not com- 
petent for him to enter into any discussion upon the 



201 

merits of the measure proposed, or to take any cogni- 
zance whatever of its policy, justice, or necessity. 

It is for the civil officer, and him alone, to judge of 
the policy, the justice, or the necessity of the measure. 
For these he alone is responsible to the government he 
serves, and he is not called upon in duty, either to justi- 
fy his conclusions, or to communicate his reasons to the 
mUitary officer to whom he may address the requisition 
for troops. Although such manifestations of confi- 
dence and cordiality are always to be desired, the civil 
officer is only required, by his strict duty, to state dis- 
tinctly the service he desires to have performed, and the 
necessity of troops for the purpose, and to afford such 
further information as may be necessary to enable the 
officer in command to execute efficiently his orders. The 
civil officer is not authorized to interfere, in any way, 
with the formation or details of the force, the military 
officer being held responsible for the success of the 
operations to be undertaken, and it is for the latter, and 
for him alone, to judge in what manner the troops can 
best effect the object which the civil officer has indicat- 
ed, and to direct the force in the execution of the ser- 
vice in which it is engaged. 

But while the instructions of the civil officer are given 
in general terms, directing the military officer to accom- 
phsh a particular purpose, as to disperse rioters, or clear 
a place, or defend a building, and the mode and means 
by which the specified purpose is to be attained are 
directed by the military commander, the latter, to prevent 
misunderstanding, should have his instructions reduced 
to writing. 



202 

The civil officer making the call communicates direct- 
ly with the superior officer in the chief command of the 
military force. He does not interfere otherwise with 
the force or its conduct. Subordinate military officers 
look to their military superior for their orders. If, after 
a lawful call into service, no instractions are given to 
the military commander by the civil officer, for any 
cause, or if there be a conflict of jurisdiction between 
public officers authorized to call to their aid the military 
force, as to who should make the call, or if contradictory, 
inconsistent or unlawful directions are given by the civil 
officer, the military commander will, if the occasion 
seems to require the use of a military force, himself di- 
rect the troops, in such manner as to secure the public 
peace and the due observance of laws agreeably to the 
call made upon him by the civil authority. 

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. 

The officer in command of military forces will, upon a 
call for troops from the civil authorities, cause the neces- 
sary number of men to be supplied with the amount of 
ammunition which will probably be required. 

If there be no reserve ammunition, or if there is not 
sufficient to give the necessary number of rounds to each 
soldier, the officer in command will make requisition in 
regular manner upon the quartermaster-general. 

If there be not time to make requisitions and receive 
the ammunition, or if the quartermaster-general, for any 
reason, cannot supply it, then the officer commanding the 
troops will procure it by purchase, and send the account 
therefor to the adjutant-general of the state for allowance. 



203 

But the furnishing of the requisite ammunition will not 
be a condition of obedience to their commanding officer 
on the part of the troops who may be held to duty, al- 
though, for any reason, the ammunition is not procured. 

Under no circumstances will blank cartridges be issued 
to troops who are to aid the civil power. 

The dress in which troops may be called upon to en- 
counter a mob will receive serious consideration. Rioters 
have generally all their muscles free, so should the soldier, 
as far as possible, or he will not be, physically, a match 
for the average rioter. Having due regard to climate 
and season, undress uniform is preferable to full dress,, 
especially if the latter is made to fit snugly and in such 
a manner as to confine free muscular action, or if there 
are such appendages as knots or wings or useless belts. 

It is better not to have the knapsacks, unless the troops^ 
are to do duty beyond the limits of the town in which they 
are located. Overcoats, to be carried easily off the 
knapsack, should be rolled tightly lengthwise (cape ex- 
tend), and tied together by the ends, to be worn over 
the left shoulder, the tie under and to the rear of the 
right arm-pit. Such soldiers as have rubber blankets 
should take them, to be rolled with the overcoat, or fold- 
ed and hung over the belt when not in use. 

Haversacks and canteens are also a very necessary 
part of the soldiers' equipment, and should receive prop-^ 
er attention from commanding officers. The haversacks^ 
must not be allowed to remain greasy or dirty, and mud 
should not be permitted to accumulate in the canteens,, 
but everything relating to these most necessary articles 
should always be in readiness for immediate use. 



204 

The tendency of all troops who have not learned wis- 
dom by uncomfortable experience is to start with too 
heavy a kit upon the men, over fatigne and a certain 
amount of discouragement naturally follow. A competent 
officer will judiciously arrange all this, adapting the dress 
of his men to the season and the duty in view. 

The matter of rations and other supplies depends so 
largely upon circumstances that no definite rules can be 
laid down, except to remind commanding officers that a 
man's vitality is sustained from his stomach, and that, 
while he may be placed in many situations involving 
much uncertainty, hunger is certain at stated intervals, 
and officers should anticipate and provide against it by 
every means in their power. 

Commanding officers are also cautioned to be very 
watchful concerning the use of liquor by their troops. 

Supplies for the medical officers, and means for trans- 
porting wounded men must be carefully looked after. 
Medical officers should attend to all matters of supphes 
which they may need in the performance of their pro- 
fessional duties, and if regular ambulances cannot be 
had they will give the commanding officer prompt no- 
tice of the fact. In such case the latter should cause 
his quartermaster to provide hght wagons with springs, 
and covered, if possible. 

The musicians of each regiment or detachment should 
be organized into an ambulance corps, and instiTicted by 
the medical officers how to lift and carry the wounded. 
They should also be taught the position of the larger 
arteries, and how to check the flow of blood therefrom ; 
a-lso, how to wash a wound and effect simple bandaging. 



205 



ASSEMBLY AND MOVEMENT. 



Experience shows that disturbances of the peace are 
most Ukely to occur in the summer months. The weather 
is then more favorable for such demonstration ; the 
members of the mihtia are more likely to be scattered, 
and can consequently only be called together with 
greater exertion than at other ' seasons ; hence the rule 
riiould be laid down by commanding officers, that no 
officer or soldier is to allow any change in his address 
to remain unknown to the proper authority. In cases 
where telegraphic communication alone can reach a sol- 
dier to be of service in time, care must be taken before- 
hand to ensure prompt reception and a thorough com- 
prehension of the message on the part of the soldier. 

Upon the assembly of troops in an armory, should a 
mob threaten to bar their passage, great care and judg- 
ment will be required from commanding officers. Less 
danger is to be apprehended where a regiment or bat- 
talion can be assembled in one place than in the case of 
a company in a detached armory ; but, in either case, 
the officer in command must be prepared to act promptly 
and efficiently. 

From an armory upon the ground floor less difficulty 
will naturally be experienced in getting the troops into 
a street than from a room in an upper story, especially 
when the means of egress is by a stairway and through 
a narrow entrance. In the latter case, if a mob is 
threatening a stairway and is of such strength as to ren- 
der impracticable the forcing of a passage, a barricade 
may be advantageously placed with a sufficient guard, or 



206 

a feint of forcing egress be made, while the main body of 
the troops is quietly moved from the armory by some 
other route, either over the roofs of other buildings or 
by cutting a way through walls until proper means and 
place for egress can be found. 

Should a mob attack an armory, the officer command- 
ing therein must be governed by circumstances. No 
rule for action can be specifically laid down, owing to 
the fact that the situation and plan of no two armories 
are alike. But it may be generally assumed, that by a 
judicious use of barricades and marksmen at important 
vantage points and windows, a comparatively small 
body of troops, properly disposed and determined, will 
keep at bay, if not utterly rout, a mob of considerable 
proportions. 

Means for communication between armories and head- 
quarters and superior headquarters in time of trouble 
should be carefully considered. If signals can be seen 
from one to another, commanding officers must see that 
they have men properly instructed in signaling. If 
signals cannot be seen, the telegraph, when practicable, 
should be pro^dded. If orderlies must be used, ways 
other than by regular entrances should be devised for 
egress and ingress, and such orderlies should go in civil 
garb. 

In cases where orderlies in civil garb are used, the 
means by which they are to be recoganized and passed 
upon their duty should be carefully arranged. 

TEANSPOKTATION OF TEOOPS BY RAIL. 

The approaches to the stations must be kept clear, 



207 

and silence strictly enforced when the troops arrive near 
them. The arrangement to be made by the responsible 
staff officer requires great care; but, however well de- 
vised, disorder will certainly result unless regimental 
officers enforce discipline most strictly in marching 
through a town to the railroad, upon their arrival there 
and in entering the cars allotted to their men. These 
operations test, most severely, the discipline of regi- 
ments. 

Only the troops for whom the cars are intended should 
be allowed to enter the station, and the presence of 
spectators or friends should be strictlj^ forbidden. 

When the station at which troops would naturally 
embark is occupied or threatened by a disorderly crowd 
or a mob, the commanding officer will cause a space to 
be cleared and guarded at some point above or below 
the station sufficient to receive his command and their 
train ; he will then have the cars run inside his line of 
guards and proceed to embark his men. 

In all movements of troops the various military units 
should be kept together, so far as practicable. What- 
ever may be the number of either arm conveyed by any 
one train they should go fully equipped, having their 
wagons, etc., with them, so as to march off without delay 
upon leaving the train. 

Commanding officers should see that troops, at the end 
of their journey, are not crowded into a town, and do not 
block up the exits from it. 

Each car should be marked with the number of sol- 
diers it is intended to carry, and with the number of the 
regiment from which it is to be filled. 



208 

Before entering the cars infantry will be ordered to 
take off their knapsacks and shift their cartridge boxes^ 
haversacks, bayonets and canteens around to the front 
of their bodies. This done, they will receive the order 
to get into their cars, each man taking with him his arms 
and knapsack. 

Each man will retain possession of his piece, unless 
his commanding officer should direct that the arms be 
placed upon the knapsacks under the seats ; arms are 
never to be laid upon the floor of the car. 

Horses should remain harnessed or saddled during 
railway journeys made as parts of any large movement 
of troops. 

In the movement of supplies it will greatly expedite 
their handling if they can be forwarded already loaded 
in carts or wagons, so that they can be promptly wheeled 
off the cars at the end of the journey. 

The strictest silence must be maintained in the ranks 
from the moment of entering the station until the de- 
parture of the train. 

The smallest possible number of men should be per- 
mitted to fall out in the station. In order to prevent 
the necessity for their doing so it is advisable to have a 
brief halt somewhere near the station. 

Once in the cars the men should be kept there, only 
those required for fatigue being allowed on the plat- 
forms. Fatigue parties should leave their arms and 
accoutrements in their cars when they are at work on 
the platforms. 

In the case of artillery the command will be drawn up 
on the nearest convenient ground. The men will dismount. 



209 

and, after being permitted to fall out for necessary pur-^ 
poses, will be formed in front of their pieces and as- 
signed to the cars reserved for them. 

The horses will then be unhitched and sent to the cars 
allotted to them, those of the same teams being, as far as 
possible, together ; they are embarked in the same man- 
ner as are horses for transportation by rail. 

If the journey be long the horses will be unharnessed 
before they are placed in the cars, and when this is done 
the harness and horse equipments will be carried in bag- 
gage cars, and the harness for each horse tied up in its 
blanket and marked or labeled. In loading the harness, 
that of each team and section should be placed in regu- 
lar order. 

The guns and carriages will be carried on open cars, 
the pieces unlimbered, the trails and stocks resting on 
the floor of the cars ; the limbers are lashed to the car- 
riages, and all the wheels chocked by pieces of wood 
nailed to the floor of the car ; no projections of guns,, 
poles, or spare wheels should be allowed to extend be- 
yond the buffers on the sides of the cars. 

In arranging the time table, it will be found essential 
to establish a low average speed, so that lost time may 
be made up by increasing it for short distances occasion- 
ally ; a quarter of an hour lost by any one train through 
some trifling accident would otherwise make itself felt 
throughout the whole column of trains, and thus disturb 
the time table drawn up for the entire movement. 

Before starting, sentinels will be posted at the ends of 
each car to keep the men from passing from one car to 



210 

another, or standing upon the platforms, and also to pre- 
vent unauthorized persons from entering the cars. 

Every two or three hours, according to the length of 
the journey, there should be a short halt, and every 
eight or nine hours, a halt of at least an hour, for feed- 
ing both men and horses. In preparing the time table 
these halts should be calculated for, and the points se- 
lected where they are to take place. A good supply of 
water is of the utmost consequence at these halting pla- 
ces, especially where it is intended to feed. 

Protection for the men against the inclemency of the 
weather should also be provided. 

The arrangements required for feeding the men at the 
places selected for this purpose, during a great move- 
ment of troops, are considerable, and satisfactory ac- 
complishment depends on the manner in which the nec- 
essary arrangements are designed and carried out. Hot 
coffee (or tea) is especially necessary for the comfort of 
the men. 

The police duties at the halting places should be strict- 
ly enforced. No intoxicating liquor should be allowed 
in or near the trains. 

Whenever there is reason to believe that the track or 
road may be interfered with, an extra engine carrying a 
staff officer should be kept running ahead of the leading 
train within signaling distance. With the leading train 
there should be a telegraph operater with a portable 
instrument and sufficient copper wire to connect it with 
the telegraph wires of the road. 

With the leading train should be a detachment of 



211 

workmen with twenty or thirty rails, to repair any slight 
damage. 

Each train should be provided with skids, to enable 
guns and horses to be promptly disembarked at any 
point. The disembarkation is very similar to the em- 
barkation. 

With infantry the main body should be marched clear 
of the station and halted on the nearest available open 
space or the route to be taken, to await the arrival of 
the baggage, a fatigue party being left to assist the 
drivers to unload their wagons and horses. As soon as 
the baggage comes up the column will march to its des- 
tination. No halt will be permitted until well clear of the 
terminus. No stragghng should be allowed upon any 
pretence whatever. A block at the place of arrival is 
ever more serious than at the point of departure, as it 
will jam up all the trains in rear, thereby rendering acci- 
dents more liable to occur. 

If the place ordered for disembarkation be obstructed 
or threatened by a crowd or mob, the officer in charge 
of the train will, if possible, select a clear spot, not too 
far removed, and after establishing a guard, will proceed 
to disembark his men at that point. 

It is absolutely neccessary that troops should move 
from the station immediately on arriving, to prevent a 
a block in the movement in the rear. The arrangements 
to secure this end will depend, to a considerable degree, 
upon the importance of the movement, the season of the 
year, and the locality ; cavalry and artillery should, as a 
rule, be dispatched so as to arrive at their destination at 



10 



212 

least two hours before dark in the evening, or not earlier 
in the morning than an hour before daybreak. 

The baggage of each regiment should be kept by it- 
self, this must be attended to by the officer permanently 
in charge of the transportation of each regiment, who will 
distribute his guard to this end. One non-commissioned 
officer should be with the leading, and one with the last 
wagon. 

If a load tumbles off, or a wagon breaks down, the whole 
of the baggage of that regiment is to draw up on the side 
of the road, allowing that of other regiments to pass ; the 
guard must then, under the direction of the officer, re-pack 
the load, or, if necessary, distribute it in small quantities 
among other wagons. 

The allowance of personal baggage will be regulated 
by the officer in command of the expedition. 

Commanding officers will use great care in selecting 
the points for embarkation and disembarkation, and 
march their troops any distance required to enable these 
operations to be conducted in places that are unobstruct- 
ed. Troops in trains of cars or carriages must never be 
embarked or disembarked in the presence of a hostile 
crowd, nor in the presence of any crowd, if it can possi- 
bly be avoided, neither will trains containing troops be 
stopped at way stations in a position where an assault 
cannot be promptly checked. 

It is a safe rule, in all practicable cases, to stop trains 
at such a distance from stations or thickly populated 
districts, that open country on either side of the track 
may be available to post guards around the train, if 
necessary, during the halt. 



213 

Every officer who may be required to move troops 
through a city or town, under orders to preserve the 
peace, should provide himself, if possible, with an 
accurate map of the place, or a reliable guide, or both, 
unless he is personally well acquainted with the 
locality. 

The tactical formation to be assumed by troops march- 
ing through cities and towns where a disturbance of the 
peace is threatened, or a mob is to be dispersed, cannot, 
from the infinite variety of possible situations, be defi- 
nitely laid down. Such movements must be left to the 
judgment of commanding officers. As a rule, however, 
the formation in hollow square will probably be found 
most suitable, in which case the square should be formed 
with its front and rear extending entirely across the 
street from building to building (not from curb to curb), 
so that each sidewalk may be occupied by the columns 
of fours forming the sides, the square thus occupying 
the street to the exclusion of every person except those 
who are properly there. 

All persons wishing to pass in an opposite direction 
must be directed to take some other route or wait in 
side streets till the square has passed. This, in times 
when a formation is required, is the only safe right of 
way for the troops. 

The manner of forming the square is left to the judg- 
ment of the officer commanding. He designates the 
strength of each front and the officer who is to have 
charge of each. The color-guard should march within 
the square, also a reserve, and the front and rear of the 
square should have small reserves at the corners to in- 



214 

crease the width when the streets demand it. When the 
square halts its rear faces about by command of the 
officer placed in charge, and the columns of fours at the 
sides, if opposite to side streets, wheel into line facing 
outward, each by command of its own chief, as may be 
necessary. File closers march on the inside flanks, and 
the field, staff, non-commissioned staff, musicians and 
ambulance are within the square in such positions as 
may be assigned them by the commanding officer. 

A double column of fours will be found well adapted 
as a preparatory movement to the formation of a square. 

As a rule, music will not be played for the march of 
troops proceeding to aid the civil power. The march 
should be conducted as silently as possible ; the words of 
€ommand will be given with only sufficient force to be 
heard distinctly by those who should hear them, and all 
cautionary words will be spoken quietly. Every care 
should be taken to have the movement of the troops 
attract the least possible attention from the public. 

A squad of police should accompany each column of 
troops to make the arrests, or take into custody persons 
insulting, molesting, or obstructing the troops. In squares 
they may march inside when necessary. Their principal 
value consists in their ability to dash out of the cover 
of the column, strike right and left with their clubs, 
seize a few of the leaders of any riotous spirit in the 
crowd and drag them back as prisoners into the square, 
with a celerity impossible to a soldier carrying a rifle. 
In this manner an ordinary mob can be cowed and bro- 
ken up without the necessity of firing. 



215 

Commanding officers, in moving troops against a mob, 
will find it of great advantage to be mounted, as they 
should be in a position to see over the heads of their 
men and the crowd, in order that they may better direct 
the movements of the troops. 

The commander of the military force will be cautious 
not to allow any persons to become intermingled with 
the troops, or to close upon them in such a way as will 
interfere with the manoeuvres, also not to advance into 
any riotous or tumultuous assemblage by a flank move- 
ment, and especially to guard the command against 
being entangled with or disarmed by rioters while march- 
ing, or waiting for orders to march, to the scene of dis- 
turbance. 

Under no circumstances should any part of a crowd 
be allowed to remain upon a sidewalk to threaten the 
flank of troops. The sidewalks of a street, on account of 
their elevation above the pavement (and because per- 
sons upon them are protected from attack on the side 
toward the buildings) are important strategical places, 
and if a small body of troops is obhged to force its way 
through a very wide street where the square formation is 
impracticable, a complete possession of one sidewalk is 
better for a passage than the pavement, where both 
flanks may be exposed. 

The military officers, while acting in aid of the civil 
authorities, will themselves retain the command of the 
troops and enforce the most exact subordination and dis- 
cipline. They will impress upon their commands the 
necessity of coolness and self-possession, and enjoin ab- 



216 

solntely the rule that no man will fire mthout orders 
from his proper military superior. 

Commanding officers may cause the troops to arrest 
all rioters and other persons found in open resistance to 
the civil authorities, and are empowered and required to 
overcome such resistance and secure and keep the 
peace by the use, if necessary, of their arms and all the 
power they possess, but they are not authorized to pun- 
ish any person for an offense, however amenable he may 
be to punishment. They will always endeavor, by a 
firm and judicious conduct and the moral force of their 
presence, to establish the public order, if possible, with- 
out a resort to arms. To have accompHshed this result 
will be the best evidence of their skill and the wisdom 
of their measures. 

The troops, when ordered to disperse a tumultuous or 
riotous assemblage, unless special exigencies should in- 
tervene, will observe the following method of procedure : 
On approaching the place where the riot is progressing 
or threatened, the officer in command will request the 
civil officer to give notice in a loud tone of voice, requir- 
ing all persons so assembled to disperse forthwith. 
Unless this notice is given by the civil officer the military 
officer will himself cause it to be given. After waiting a 
sufficient time to allow the mob or rioters to disperse, the 
troops will advance and attempt to clear the place or 
disperse the rioters. In this effort they should have, if 
possible, the active aid of the civil force, and especially 
the personal presence and authority of the magistracy. 
If the troops are then attacked or resisted in such force 
as renders it impossible otherwise to clear the ground 



217 

or disperse tbe rioters, they may be ordered to fire, or 
use any other means necessary to attain the end de- 
signed. In no case will they fire without the orders of 
their proper military commander. 

The order to fire will be communicated to the troops 
by the superior military ofiicer in command on the spot. 
It is impossible to specify in advance the particulars or 
nature of each case of resistance or attack by rioters or 
persons engaged in a breach of the peace which will jus- 
tify the troops in taking life. The commander must 
himself examine the scene of disorder, and then, in view 
of all the circumstances, exercise a sound discretion as 
to the measure of force demanded. His honest and 
reasonable judgment in a case of apparent necessity is 
all that is required by the law, and his lawful command 
w^ill be a sufficient protection to those who are subject 
to his orders. 

The general rule apphcable to the subject is given as 
follows : 

By the laws of the land, homicide, or the taking of 
human life, is justifiable when necessarily committed by 
public -officers, and those acting under their com- 
mand in their aid and assistance in overcoming resist- 
ance to the execution of legal process, or to the charge of 
any other legal duty, and it is also justifiable when 
necessarily committed by any person in attempting, by 
lawful ways and means, to apprehend a person for any 
felony committed, or in lawfully suppressing any riot, or 
in lawfully keeping and preserving the peace. 

It will be an axiom for the guidance of military com- 
manders acting in aid of the civil authorities to use no 



218 

iinnecessary violence, but to employ as much force, and 
of such a kind as will suffice to accomplish the object for 
which their services have been required. 

The rule of law is : that all persons who, by their pres- 
ence, give countenance to a riot are principals, whether 
they engage in acts of violence or not, especially after 
notice given to disperse. Yet it often happens that a 
large proportion of a mob are in the first instance mere 
spectators or idlers, not meaning to aid a breach of the 
peace. For this reason officers are enjoined (unless the 
exigencies of the case should render it impracticable) 
always to give the required notice and opportunity to 
disperse before proceeding to extremities, to the end 
that all those who are well disposed may retire in safety; 
and, as far as practicable, in every case of firing, pains 
will be taken to make the fire effective only as against 
those who are actually engaged in the riot. 

In order to guard against all misunderstanding, offi- 
cers commanding troops employed in the suppression of 
riots or enforcement of the law are to take the most 
effectual means in conjunction with the magistrates 
under whose orders they may be placed, for explaining^ 
that if the troops are ordered to fire, their fire will be 
effective. 

Experience having shown the evil results of firing 
with blank cartridge in the first instance, to suppress a 
riot, such firing is prohibited. The only eventually 
merciful measures are the severe ones. 

The firing is to cease the instant it is no longer neces- 
sary, whether the civil officer orders the cessation or not. 
Care also should be taken not to fire upon persons separ- 



219 

ated from the crowd, iniless they have been plainly seen 
to be aggressors or instigators of riotous acts. 

To guard against danger to innocent persons at a 
distance, the troops will be instructed not to fire over the 
mob or in the air, as such a proceeding would, in effect, 
favor the most daring and the guilty, and might sacri- 
fice the least daring, and even the innocent. If the mob 
is close to the troops the latter, to avoid the effect of the 
rising of the shot at short distance, should aim not high- 
er then the centre of the body ; if very close, the aim 
should be at the feet of the crowd. 

Although it is desirable that the first fire of the troops 
should be as effective as possible, it is of paramount im- 
portance that they should always have the opportunity 
of checking a sudden onset by a renewal of the fire. 
The fire by rank (rear rank commencing) will probably 
be found safest and most efficacious against a mob not 
barricaded and at close quarters ; at longer range or 
against a barricade, file firing will be the best, as it ad- 
mits of more careful aim. 

Troops are authorized to defend from attack their 
persons, their arms, and any place in which they may 
be stationed. In case of any sudden onset on the troops 
in a street or building occupied by them, or other urgent 
circumstances requiring instant attack or resistance, the 
notice and other measures preliminary to the action of 
the troops may be dispensed with. The order to fire in 
this case will be given by the military commander on 
the spot. For every slight attack the troops will not be 
ordered to fire. There must be a necessity for so doing, 

10^ 



220 

and it should be plain that other less dangerous meas- 
ures will not suffice to secure the safety of the troops. 

The casting of missiles or the firing of shots is not to 
be considered as a slight attack. Nothing so emboldens 
a crowd as passive resistance, and it should never be al- 
lowed. The first stone thrown or a shot fired at the 
troops should draw two or three shots fired under order 
by marksmen designated, great care being taken that no 
firing is done by any other than the man or men special- 
ly ordered to do so. Any man in a crowd, on a roof, or 
at a window, plainly seen to fire a shot, throw a stone, 
or assault a soldier, should be shot, not by an indis- 
criminate volley, but by a marksman firing by order at 
that man, more caution being of course observed if the 
man to be shot is in the crowd than if at a window^, on 
-a roof, or at some other place where he can be seen 
apart from other people. As the ordinary mob yields 
before the appearance of 'a pow^erful military body even 
more readily than before their physical power, com- 
manding officers are cautioned not to engage a formidable 
mob with too small a force ; they will be cautious not to 
w^eaken their main command too much by detachments, 
and always to have on hand a sufficient number to act 
with energy and decided effect if their services are seri- 
ously required. 

Artillery placed at the heads of columns or in com- 
manding positions is most effective for the clearing of 
streets, and wall be used if other means shall fail. While 
the guns are being conducted to their positions for opening 
the fire it will generally be desirable to mask them with 
infantry or cavalry. Case shot, canister and grape, by 



221 

reason of their shorter range and greater execution, will 
Ije employed in preference to round shot, unless the 
object is to destroy barricades or buildings. The artil- 
lery should always be supported by an adequate force 
of the other arms. 

Gathng guns, if properly handled, may be used with 
terrible effect upon a mob. They should be posted with 
infantry in hollow square, and masked by the divisions or 
fronts which extend across a street, and be fired through 
an interval formed by breaking one or two forms to the 
rear. The fire of these engines to the front will, if prop- 
erly handled, prove so destructive that the attention and 
iire of the troops on the front may be transferred 
from the street level to the windows and house-tops. 
GatUng guns should be so mounted that they may be 
easily dragged by the soldiers without the aid of horses. 

If hydrants are numerous and handy, and a supply of 
water plentiful, a steam fire engine, a few lengths of 
hose with proper pipes and a coal wagon may be found 
very useful inside a square of troops against a mob. A 
thorough wetting, judiciously administered, will mater- 
ially reduce the density and dampen the ardor of a 
vicious crowd. 

Proper precautions must be taken in advance to have 
the troops distinctly understand all orders given to 
them. The confusion and shouting incident to a turbu- 
lent crowd may drown all vocal commands, hence it is 
recommended that the troops in the infantry especially 
should be carefully instructed in the most important 
bugle signals, notably the attention, forivard, halt, com- 
meMce firing, and cease firing, so that these signals maybe 



222 

given, when necessary, on the bngle, and be thoroughly 
understood. If the troops are not acccustomed to all 
these signals the bugle should only be used for the com- 
mence firing, and the cease firing. If the troops are made 
to understand that no firing is to take place mthout the 
bugle signal, except where marksmen are individually 
ordered to fire in particular instances (in which case 
verbal directions are easily given), additional steadi- 
ness and less liability to unauthorized shooting, panic or 
accident, will be secured. The men should also be as- 
sured that they will not be made targets of without 
opportunity of seH defense, but they must be made to 
understand that the commanding officer alone is the 
proper judge of how and when they may defend them- 
selves by firing. 

In street firing, where only a portion of the troops are 
required to fire, great care must be taken to have the 
whole command understand to which portion the order 
to fire appertains, and every man who fires is expected 
to make his bullet tell. 

The streets of cities are, in their nature, defiles which 
are capable of vigorous defence, not only by barricades 
but from the windows and house-tops. Troops necessa-^ 
rily manoeuvre at great disadvantage in such places, and 
are placed in an unfortunate predicament if the opposi- 
tion to them is organized with any skill. The square 
formation for infantry is valuable, mamly because, while 
the fronts which extend across a street sweep its length, 
the fronts which occupy the sidewalks command the 
houses on the opposite sides respectively. But this may 
not be sufficient ; it may be necessary to occupy the 



223 

houses to drive out or capture the inmates, and to use the 
cover of the walls to better command opposite windows 
and house-tops, or to obtain a plunging fire upon a bar- 
ricade. If necessary to effect an occtipation of the 
houses, the hardest struggle may come in obtaining pos- 
session of the upper story and roof of the first house. 
That done, if the roofs cannot be traversed, or do not 
afford proper facihties for progress, openings must be 
make with crowbars or battering beams from one house 
to another, always in the uppermost stories. In this 
way a passage may be effected without great loss ; 
whereas, if the columns are pushed through the streets 
without obtaining possession of the houses on each side, 
the losses may be very great, and the operation have a 
demoralizing effect on the men. 

Troops should not attempt to carry barricades in 
cities by brute force if they can be flanked by progress 
through other streets or reduced as indicated. Artillery, 
when it can be had, should be promptly used to batter 
down barricades. 



224 



OAEE AKD PEESERYATIOiT OF AR- 
TILLERY AITD ARTILLERY 
MATERIAL. 



(Taken from the manuscript of a work now in course 
of preparation by Brevet Brig. Gen. John C. Tidbatt, 
Major 2d U. S. Artillery ; approved by the staff of the 
U. S. Artillery School, Fort Monroe.) 

PEESERVATION OF ARTILLERY. 

Cast-iron cannon, whether mounted or dismounted, 
should be lacquered once a year. The lacquer used is 
coal-tar of the best quality mixed with sufficient spirits 
of turpentine to make it work freely with a paint brush; 
it should be applied only in dry warm weather. 

The muzzle of the piece should always be depressed, 
so that water may not stand in the bore, the tompion 
kept in, and the vent closed. At least once a month, 
especially after a rainy period, the bore should be 
sponged dry and oiled, by passing down it a sponge sat- 
urated with sperm oil. In cold weather a little kerosene 
oil is mixed with the sperm. Especial attention in this 
respect should be given to rifled guns. The vent, at the 
same time, is examined and oiled, and, if the piece is not 
in use, stopped with putty. When the piece is mounted 



225 

the trunnions and trunnion beds are kept from rusting 
by pouring a small quantity of the same oil into the beds 
and elevating and depressing the piece several times. 

PEESEEVATION OF PEOJECTILES. 

Projectiles for rifle guns should be neither lacquered 
nor painted, for the reason that either of these substan- 
ces would adhere to and foul the grooves of the piece. 
They should, however, be oiled once a year with sperm 
oil. When practicable, they should be kept under cover 
in a dry place. They are piled, according to kind and 
calibre, on their sides, in tiers of convenient height. The 
fuse holes should be stopped with tow or cotton waste. 
No shells of any description should be kept habitually 
charged ; this is done, as occasion requires, when firing. 

Spherical projectiles are lacquered ; this is done as 
soon as possible after they are received. The lacquer 
used is coal-tar, and is applied with a brush as for guns. 
All rust should be carefully removed by scraping and 
wiping before the lacquer is applied. 

Sponges, rammers, worms and ladles are generally 
placed on racks with supports, not over three feet apart, 
to prevent the staves from warping. 

Articles composed of brass are spread out on shelves ; 
they should be kept clean and free from verdigris. 
Alcohol or vinegar with rotten-stone, and afterwards 
whiting, are the most suitable poKshing materials for 
them ; all scouring is to be avoided. Steel or iron im- 
plements should be painted black or kept bright, ac- 
cording to the use for which they are intended. For 



226 

polishing, use crocus-cloth, oil and rotten-stone, after 
which oil with sperm oil. 

Fuzes, friction primers and water caps are kept, as far 
as possible, in their original packages, and are stored 
in the driest and safest place in the store-house ; they 
must never be kept in a magazine with powder. 

Powder magazines are of tAvo kinds, viz : storage and 
service. The former are for the accommodation of pow- 
der in bulk ; the latter are smaller than the former, and 
are placed as convenient as practicable to the pieces to 
be served, and contain only sufficient powder for imme- 
diate use. 

Adjoining, or convenient to each one is a filling- 
room, in which cartridges are made up and shells filled. 
Powder is brought from the magazine for this purpose, 
but only in such quantities at a time as may be neces- 
sary. In the filling-room are kept the filhng imple- 
ments and such small articles of equipment as are re- 
quired to be near the battery. 

A magazine of sufficient size, and fitted up with shelves, 
tables and racks is set aside for the storage of rockets, 
port-fires, fuzes, primers, slow and quick match, and 
other similar articles. No such stores will be permitted 
in a magazine with powder. 

Powder is stored in barrels containing one hundred 
pounds each ; the heads of the barrels are painted black, 
so as to show more plainly the marks, which are sten- 
ciled in white ; each barrel is marked on both heads with 
the number of the barrel, the name of the manufacturer, 
year of fabrication, and the kind of powder. 

In the magazines the barrels are placed on their sides. 



227 

generally three tiers high, or four tiers if absolutely 
necessary. There should be an unobstructed space of 
several square yards at the door, and this space, as like- 
wise the alleys, should be covered with carpet or mat- 
ting. The magazine is provided with a well near the 
door into which the sweepings are put. These should 
never be swept out at the door. 

For the preservation of the powder and the floors and 
lining of the magazine it is of the greatest importance 
to keep, unobstructed, the circulation of air under as 
well as above the flooring. The magazine should be 
opened and aired only in clear dry weather, when the 
temperature of the air outside is loiver than that inside of 
the magazine. It should not be opened in damp weather 
if it can be avoided. The ventilators must be kept free ; 
no shrubbery or trees should be allowed to grow so near 
as to screen the buildings from the sun. The magazine 
yards should be of sand or clay, and well drained. 

The moisture of a magazine may be absorbed by 
chloride of lime, kept in an open vessel, and removed 
from time to time ; quicklime is dangerous and should 
not be used. 

Candles in Lanterns are used for lighting the maga- 
zine. No one should enter without first removing his 
shoes or putting india rubbers over them ; no cane, sword, 
nor anything which might occasion sparks should be 
carried in. Barrels of powder should not be rolled in 
transportation, they should be carried in hand-barrows. 
All implements used in the magazine or on the barrels 
should be of copper or wood. The barrels must never 
be repaired in the magazine. Where it is necessary to 



228 

roll the powder — for its better preservation and prevent 
its caking — this should be done with a small quantity at 
a time on boards in the yard. Occasionally, especially 
in the Spring, the barrels should be inspected, to prevent 
insects from destroying the hoops — a Ught brushing over 
with carbohc acid will preserve the wood. 

When it is thought necessary a sentinel will be posted 
over the magazine to keep unauthorized persons away, 
and to prevent smoking, or give the alarm when fire is 
within dangerous proximity. 

The lightning rods at the magazine should never be 
allowed to be out of repair. 

Should a fire occur near the magazine the ventilators 
and windows must be immediately closed and the build- 
ings covered, if possible, withpaulins, blankets, or carpets 
saturated with water. It is extremely hazardous to at- 
tempt to remove the contents at such times. 

"When projectiles of any kind are received by the ord- 
nance officer of the state they should be carefully ex- 
amined and gauged, to see that they are of the proper 
€ahbre and quality required for the pieces to be served. 

Filling Cartridge Bags, — Cartridges should be made up 
only as required for use, and when any are left over after 
firing they are stored away in the service magazine on 
shelves. The cartridges are filled in the filling room of 
the service magazine. Under no circumstances will fill- 
ing be done in a powder magazine. The powder in bar- 
rels is carried from the storage magazine to the service 
magazine in hand-barrows. 

Should the powder be caked or lumpy, caution must 
l)e exercised in breaking the lumps. 



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